Conservative Party Leadership Contest Narrows to Badenoch, Jenrick

Britain's Conservative Party faces significant challenges as Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick emerge as the final candidates in the leadership contest following the exit of James Cleverly. Polling expert Sir John Curtice expressed skepticism about either candidate's ability to restore the party's electoral fortunes, citing their lack of understanding regarding the reasons behind the party's recent electoral failures. Many moderate Conservatives are disillusioned, with reports of members considering spoiling their ballots, feeling that the party is shifting too far to the right. Both candidates have been criticized for their hardline stances, with Jenrick advocating for withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights and Badenoch opposing 'woke' policies. Senior party figures doubt either candidate can unify the party or lead it into the next general election, drawing comparisons to former leader Iain Duncan Smith. The Tory Reform Group has refused to endorse either candidate, indicating a potential rift within the party as it grapples with its direction.