Conservative Party Leadership Race Narrows to Four

The Conservative Party's leadership contest is narrowing down, with Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat remaining after the elimination of Mel Stride. Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner, having topped the initial MP votes, while Badenoch and Cleverly are close behind, raising concerns about potential tactical voting among their supporters. The candidates will showcase their policies at the upcoming Conservative Party conference, pivotal for securing member support ahead of the final vote in October. Jenrick's campaign focuses heavily on immigration reform, proposing a cap on legal migration, while Badenoch criticizes the party's past governance. Tensions are rising, with allegations of 'dirty tricks' surfacing among the candidates' camps as they vie for crucial MP endorsements. The outcome of this leadership race is particularly significant as it follows a disappointing electoral performance for the party in July, necessitating a strong leader to unify and revitalize its base.