Suella Braverman, a prominent Conservative MP, retained her Fareham and Waterlooville seat with a 6,000-vote majority amid a significant election defeat for the Tories. The loss has prompted party leader Rishi Sunak to announce his resignation, following a public apology outside Number 10. Braverman, seen as a strong contender to replace Sunak, stated on Saturday that she has no immediate plans to declare her leadership bid, emphasizing the need to assess the current situation.
Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ruled himself out of the leadership race, despite narrowly securing his own seat in Godalming and Ash. Other potential candidates for the Tory leadership include James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, and Victoria Atkins. The Conservative Party, now holding only 121 seats compared to Labour's 412, is facing internal debates about its future direction. Some members have called for a collaboration with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has seen his party win five seats in the recent election. Reform UK's increased presence in Parliament introduces a fresh dynamic, indicating a potential shift towards policies that they champion.
As the backbench 1922 Committee sets the timeline and rules for the Conservative leadership election, the political landscape is evolving. With Labour's Kier Starmer as the new Prime Minister, and the presence of Reform UK offering bold new perspectives, the coming months will be critical in shaping the future political strategy of the Tories amidst an increasingly diverse Parliament.