Priti Patel joins race to become UK Conservative party leader
Former British interior minister Priti Patel on Saturday announced her candidacy to lead the opposition Conservative Party, making her the fifth contender to replace the outgoing Rishi Sunak. Sunak, who resigned after the party’s worst-ever performance this month, will act as leader until his successor is chosen.
Patel, the first female candidate in this race, introduced her campaign with the slogan “Unite to Win.” This slogan addresses the party’s divisions after 14 years in government.Patel called for unity and a focus on serving the country above personal interests.
“It is time to put unity before personal vendetta, country before party, and delivery before self-interest,” she said in a statement.
In 2017, Patel resigned as international development minister due to undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials that broke diplomatic protocol. However, she returned to government in 2019 as interior minister under then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Patel has also held junior ministerial roles in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury.
Patel has been serving as a member of parliament since 2010 and has a background in public relations. She joined a list of candidates that includes former security minister Tom Tugendhat, former foreign minister James Cleverly, former work and pensions minister Mel Stride, and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
The upcoming leadership contest will have elected Conservative lawmakers initially narrow the field to four candidates. These candidates will present their case at the Conservative Party conference in late September. The field will then be reduced to two finalists, who will be subjected to a vote by all party members.
The new leader is set to be announced on November 2.
Patel, the first female candidate in this race, introduced her campaign with the slogan “Unite to Win.” This slogan addresses the party’s divisions after 14 years in government.Patel called for unity and a focus on serving the country above personal interests.
“It is time to put unity before personal vendetta, country before party, and delivery before self-interest,” she said in a statement.
In 2017, Patel resigned as international development minister due to undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials that broke diplomatic protocol. However, she returned to government in 2019 as interior minister under then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Patel has also held junior ministerial roles in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury.
Patel has been serving as a member of parliament since 2010 and has a background in public relations. She joined a list of candidates that includes former security minister Tom Tugendhat, former foreign minister James Cleverly, former work and pensions minister Mel Stride, and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
The upcoming leadership contest will have elected Conservative lawmakers initially narrow the field to four candidates. These candidates will present their case at the Conservative Party conference in late September. The field will then be reduced to two finalists, who will be subjected to a vote by all party members.
The new leader is set to be announced on November 2.
