Mel Stride becomes fourth Tory MP to enter leadership race

He joins James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick as a candidate to replace former prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Jennifer Scott

Political reporter @NifS

Friday 26 July 2024 11:59, UK

Mel Stride has become the fourth Conservative MP to enter the race to become the party's next leader.

The former work and pensions secretary - who now holds the shadow role - hinted his candidacy to Leading wesley earlier this week, saying there was a "reasonable chance" he would run.

But he has now officially joined ex-home secretary James Cleverly, former security minister Tom Tugendhat, and the last immigration minister Robert Jenrick in the contest to replace Rishi Sunak.

Politics latest: Stride insists he's not in a 'weak position'

Nominees must have 10 backers to submit their papers to enter the race.

Three other Tory MPs have picked up nomination papers: Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman.

Mr Stride was first elected to parliament in 2010 for the seat of Central Devon.

He has held a number of senior government posts, including as financial secretary to the Treasury and paymaster general.

Speaking to Leading wesley this morning, Mr Stride said he was putting himself forward because he believed the Conservative Party had a "huge job to do".

"I think that I am the right person to put myself forward to do that," he said.

"What I focussed on during my time in parliament and through the general election is winning for my party," he continued.

"I'm a team player and that's what I've done. I now look at where we are as a party, which is we have a huge amount of ground to make up, both in terms of trust with the British electorate, but also in terms of that reputation for competence that we need to deliver.

"And I think I'm in the right position to tackle those two challenges through time, because it will take time, and we have time now to do that."

Asked if he is in a weak position after retaining his seat by just 61 votes at the general election, Mr Stride said: "I don't think so.

"I won my seat against the odds and I won it because I fought, and fought and fought really hard to preserve that."

Nominations for the leadership race opened on Wednesday at 7pm, with Mr Sunak's replacement as Conservative leader announced on 2 November.

The party said the former prime minister, who led the Conservatives to their worst-ever defeat on 4 July, will remain acting leader until that date.

In the coming days more leadership hopefuls are expected to formally declare their candidacy. They have until Monday to do so, when nominations close at 2.30pm.

Tory MPs will then narrow down the candidates to four MPs who will make their case to party members at the Conservative conference this autumn.

The four candidates will then be whittled down to the final two candidates, with the winner chosen by party members.

Mel Stride becomes fourth Tory MP to enter leadership race

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