Jacob Rees-Mogg has revealed who he is backing for the Tory leadership, and who he feels is best placed to deal with Keir Starmer.
He also hinted at a potential role for Nigel Farage in the Conservative Party, saying the next leader could maybe consider efforts to welcome him into the fold.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has revealed who he is backing
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But should they be unsuccessful in their endeavours, he said it would be necessary to “steal Nigel’s clothes” instead.
After much consideration, Jacob said on GB News he is backing Robert Jenrick.
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Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick will be quizzed by Conservative Party members in a two-hour special live programme on GB NewsPA
“I’ve come to the person that that person is Robert Jenrick”, said Jacob.
“I think he understands the depth of the challenge the country faces and has the gumption to do something about it.”
Despite throwing his weight behind Jenrick, Jacob said the Tories must group-up and support whoever emerges victorious.
“I think Kemi Badenoch has many virtues”, he said.
“She is highly capable. Her campaign against woke has been extraordinarily impressive.
“I think the Conservatives need to come together after the result and support whoever wins.
“It just seems to me that Robert has that edge and the ability to lead and to get conservative policies to the forefront of the political agenda.
“I think we lost the last election because we hadn’t done conservative things.”
Whoever wins will take over from the outgoing Rishi Sunak
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Jacob has not been able to cast any votes in the early stages of the contest after he lost his seat in the July General Election.
But the former MP will now get a say as one of the many thousands of Conservative members.
Jenrick and Badenoch both emerged to the final stage of the contest yesterday after winning out against James Cleverly, who many had seen as the favourite to emerge.
But in a shock result, he was usurped by the right-wing of the party.
Both remaining candidates now have to make their case to Conservative members across the country, ahead of the final result being announced on November 2.
Jenrick is expected to make a speech about his campaign on Thursday as the final leg of the contest begins, and has thrown down the gauntlet to his rival to debate him on the airwaves “any time, any place, anywhere”.
The Newark MP’s position in the final two was not so sure going into Wednesday, and he was said to have spent the previous night calling MPs to press for their support after a “moment of real nerves” about his place in the contest.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Jenrick admitted he had been written off and said his plan for a legally binding cap on immigrants in the tens of thousands has Reform leader Nigel Farage “rattled”.
“He knows I am the candidate who will win back those voters we lost to Reform – something our political recovery depends on,” he said, vowing not to “lurch to the Right or to the Left”.
Badenoch has meanwhile called on Tory members to “go bold” and back her, as she said she could unite the party after 78 Tory MPs voted for other candidates in the last ballot of the parliamentary party.