Two Tory leadership candidates, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat, have publicly called for the party to cut short the contest, a move that is opposed by their rival Kemi Badenoch. Senior Conservatives were reported to be in talks about bringing forward the announcement by a week, according to the Mail, but the party said on Sunday that there were currently no plans to change the date, despite calls from candidates. The contest is scheduled to run until 2 November. That would mean no Tory leader was in place before the 30 October budget, which the leader of the opposition responds to in parliament. Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, will have to respond to Rachel Reeves under the current timing. He would then step down as leader three days later. There is also disquiet that the result of the Tory leadership on Saturday 2 November will be hugely overshadowed by the final days of the US election, which is the following Tuesday.
Jenrick, who is the frontrunner, wrote in an article for the Sun that it was imperative a new Tory leader could respond to Labour’s first budget. “This Labour government seems intent on making things harder for working people at the upcoming budget,” he said. “I support shortening the contest so the new leader can hold this Labour government to account for their broken promises when the eyes of the nation are watching.” He told Times Radio he wanted to “be the one at the dispatch box making that argument”. Tugendhat, the former security minister, who is trailing Jenrick and Badenoch, also told Times Radio he backed a shorter contest. But Badenoch, who is in a close race with Jenrick, told Times Radio the length of the contest was “fine” and did not need to be changed. James Cleverly, the former home secretary who is the fourth candidate in the contest, is yet to give his view. In the latest round of voting this month, Jenrick had 33 backers among MPs, followed by Badenoch with 28 and Cleverly and Tugendhat both with 21. According to ConservativeHome, less than half the parliamentary party – 55 of 121 MPs – have openly declared who they support. The four candidates are taking part in a stream of events during the Conservative party conference, including one-on-one interviews and speeches on stage, as well as numerous receptions. There is no debate planned between the four candidates.