Former British interior minister Priti Patel has announced her candidacy to become the new leader of the opposition Conservative Party, becoming the fifth candidate in the race to replace Rishi Sunak. Sunak resigned as leader after the party’s worst election performance but will remain as acting leader until a successor is chosen.
Patel, the first female candidate in the race, launched her campaign with the slogan “Unite to Win,” emphasizing the need for unity in a party that has experienced significant internal conflicts during its 14 years in government.
In her campaign statement, Patel emphasized the importance of unity, putting the country before the party, and prioritizing delivery over self-interest. Patel’s political career includes a resignation in 2017 as International Development minister due to unauthorized meetings with Israeli officials, which violated diplomatic protocols.
Priti Patel Joins Conservative Leadership Race to Replace Rishi Sunak
However, she returned to government in 2019 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson as interior minister, also holding previous junior ministerial roles in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury. Patel has been a member of parliament since 2010 and has a background in public relations.
Other candidates in the leadership race include former security minister Tom Tugendhat, former foreign minister James Cleverly, former work and pensions minister Mel Stride, and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
The nomination process for candidates will close on Monday. The leadership contest involves elected Conservative lawmakers first narrowing the field to four candidates who will present their cases at the Conservative Party conference starting in late September.
After the conference, the number of candidates will be further reduced to two, who will then face a vote by all party members. The process is designed to ensure that the final choice reflects the preferences of the party’s broader membership base.
The new leader of the Conservative Party will be announced on November 2, concluding the leadership contest and setting the stage for the party’s future direction.
