James Cleverly’s shocking loss in the Tory leadership race left many scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong. According to senior Tory MPs, some of Cleverly’s own backers voted for Robert Jenrick in an attempt to eliminate Kemi Badenoch from the race. Additionally, a group of at least five MPs initially voted for Cleverly to boost his numbers, only to switch their support to Badenoch in the final round.
Cleverly himself seemed to be caught off guard by these tactics, as he repeatedly stated that he wanted no part in any deals or vote lending. It appears that he was more of a victim of these behind-the-scenes maneuvers rather than a willing participant. Even at Boris Johnson’s book launch, Cleverly maintained his stance against any form of manipulation in the voting process.
Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie pointed fingers at former cabinet minister Grant Shapps, accusing him of mishandling Cleverly’s votes and ultimately costing him the leadership. The Cleverly team denied any coordinated vote lending but acknowledged that unauthorized and “rogue” voting may have contributed to Cleverly’s downfall.
The unexpected turn of events in the Tory leadership race has been described as a significant blunder, reminiscent of the 2001 election when Michael Portillo was ousted as the favorite, leading to Iain Duncan Smith becoming the leader. Duncan Smith’s tenure was short-lived, lasting only two years.
Despite Cleverly’s surge in support during the voting rounds, he remained cautious and rightfully so, as his hopes of making it to the final two contenders were dashed. The painful reality of his abrupt exit from the race serves as a reminder that in the world of politics, nothing can be taken for granted.
