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Conservative Leadership Contest Faces Criticism Over Limited Stage Time
Contenders for the Conservative Party leadership have voiced strong discontent regarding the handling of the ongoing contest, describing it as a “disgrace” after revelations that they might only have a few minutes to present their platforms during the party conference.
Initially anticipated to be a significant clash over the party’s future direction, the contest now seems to be reduced to just 10 minutes for each candidate on stage, according to insiders. Rishi Sunak, the current leader of the Conservatives facing a tumultuous tenure, is expected to make a minimal appearance, addressing the attendees on the conference’s final day.
Some candidates have raised concerns over a proposed “beauty contest” format for the final four candidates, arguing that their opportunities to communicate their visions and proposals to party members—and potentially a wider audience through media coverage—have been dramatically minimized.
This limitation could restrict voters’ access to critical insights about each candidate’s plans and aspirations for the country. Yet, party officials have maintained that the conference agenda remains unconfirmed, stating that the leader of the party should routinely engage various audiences with speeches lasting at least an hour, rendering the planned time allocations unacceptable.
One party figure expressed frustration, saying, “Candidates vying for the leadership should be expected to deliver comprehensive speeches. Adopting standards that cater to the least competent risks leading us into obscurity.” Supporters of Robert Jenrick highlighted his oratory skills, noting his capacity to engage an audience without notes for over half an hour during his campaign launch.
Frustration among Conservative MPs has been mounting due to the lengthy nature of the leadership contest, which will not conclude until 2 November. Consequently, Sunak will represent the party at a time when the Labour government is poised to deliver its inaugural budget, following the Conservatives’ recent electoral setbacks.
Tom Tugendhat’s team is reportedly advocating for a shorter contest to enhance the Conservatives’ response capability to Labour’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves. On Tuesday, Conservative MPs are expected to eliminate a candidate, narrowing the field to four potential successors to Sunak. Allies of James Cleverly believe his personal appeal makes him a strong contender for the final selections.
A recent poll by Savanta indicated that voters consider both Cleverly and Tugendhat among the most suitable candidates for prime minister, despite trailing behind Labour leader Keir Starmer in overall approval ratings.
In the latest developments, Jenrick’s campaign has faced accusations from competitors, alleging that it has strategically delivered votes to bolster other candidates during the latest round of voting. Priti Patel was eliminated last week, attracting only 14 votes despite her public visibility. Jenrick topped the vote with support from 28 MPs, followed by Kemi Badenoch with 22, Cleverly with 21, Tugendhat with 17, and Mel Stride with 16.
Some campaigns claim that Jenrick’s team “definitely” influenced the vote outcome last week, implying that without such support, Mel Stride would not have surpassed Patel in votes. There are also assertions that Team Jenrick lent votes to Cleverly to improve his standing against Badenoch, suggesting a tactical maneuvering in the leadership race.
In response to these claims, Jenrick’s campaign dismissed the allegations as unfounded, interpreting them as signs of desperation from rival campaigns struggling to maintain ground.
Source
www.theguardian.com