Four hopefuls left in race to lead UK Conservatives

Four hopefuls are left in the race to become leader of the Conservatives after centrist former work and pensions minister Mel Stride was knocked out of a race set to shape the future direction of the United Kingdom's once dominant party.

The contest, to replace former prime minister Rishi Sunak, will run until November 2, after Conservative members cast the final ballots for a new leader, charged with turning around the fortunes of a party that suffered the worst result in its history in a July election defeat at the hands of Labour.

Tuesday's second round of voting again handed pole position to Robert Jenrick, who quit as immigration minister as he believed the then-government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was not tough enough.

Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch came in second place in the second round of voting for the Conservative leadership. (EPA PHOTO)

Jenrick received 33 votes in the second ballot, followed by Kemi Badenoch with 28.

James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat tied with 21 votes while Stride came in last with 16, knocking him out of the race.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel was eliminated in the first round of voting last week.

The remaining four candidates will make pitches to delegates at the Conservative Party conference in early October.

with Reuters