Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick emerged as the final candidates vying for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Rishi Sunak stepped down following a disappointing general election result in July, but he has remained in a caretaker role until a new leader is chosen, with the announcement scheduled for Saturday morning. This change marks the sixth leadership transition within the Conservative Party in just over eight years.

To qualify for a spot on the ballot, each candidate needed support from at least ten MPs, including both a proposer and a seconder. MPs were limited to nominating only one candidate during each voting round. This requirement was notably lower than during the previous leadership contest in 2022 when candidates needed backing from 100 MPs. Sunak was the sole participant who met that threshold and subsequently became the leader.

There are currently 121 Conservative MPs; however, those serving as whips or on the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee were excluded from nominating candidates. Additionally, all candidates were required to raise £200,000 for party activities to advance to the final four.

On July 29, the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee confirmed that six contenders met the necessary criteria: Badenoch, James Cleverly, Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat. Following the closure of nominations on this date, candidates had five and a half weeks to engage with their fellow MPs before voting commenced.

BBC political editor Chris Mason reported that Sunak did not participate in voting, resulting in an electorate of 120 MPs. The first round of voting took place on September 4, shortly after Parliament reconvened, reducing the number of contenders from six to five by eliminating Dame Priti Patel. A second vote on September 10 further narrowed the field by removing Stride.

At the party conference in Birmingham, the final four candidates had multiple opportunities to address Conservative members directly. Another round of voting occurred on October 8, leading to Tugendhat’s elimination after receiving the fewest votes. Cleverly improved his standing by coming first in this round after starting in third place but was ultimately knocked out during a final MPs' vote on October 9.

Badenoch led with 42 votes while Jenrick closely followed with 41 votes. From October 15 to October 31, Conservative members cast their votes online to determine their new leader. This online system has faced criticism over potential security vulnerabilities. Historically, party members have leaned toward more right-leaning candidates when making their selections.

To be eligible to vote in this election, members had to be active for at least 90 days prior and must have been party members at the time nominations opened. The new leader will be revealed on Saturday morning when Sunak officially transfers leadership responsibilities. The winner will take charge of leading both the opposition and efforts aimed at revitalizing the Conservative Party.