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Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel was eliminated from the Tory leadership contest on Wednesday and Robert Jenrick has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Rishi Sunak.
Former immigration minister Mr Jenrick picked up 28 votes in the first ballot of MPs, with bookmakers’ favourite Kemi Badenoch in second place on 22.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly was one vote behind on 21, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat on 17 and shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride on 16.
Dame Priti picked up just 14 votes and so was knocked out at the first stage.
The outcome of the leadership contest came on the same day as the final report into the Grenfell Tower tragedy that claimed the life of 72 residents in 2017.
It concluded that all the deaths were avoidable and were the result of decades of failure from successive governments and the construction industry.
Grenfell United, which represents some of the victims’ families, said: “We have an expectation that the Met Police and the CPS ensure that those who are truly responsible are held to account and brought to justice.”
Rayner urges CPS to act ‘as quickly as possible’ on Grenfell tragedy
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said she wanted the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service to act “as quickly as possible” over the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Following the publication of Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s inquiry report, she told Times Radio: “This is an incredibly complex investigation.
“And as this is seven years on, and the phase two report is out, and it’s incredibly detailed, there’s considerable volumes to go through, and we will do everything we can to support the Met Police and the CPS to ensure that they can bring their findings and take their action forward as quickly as possible.
“Because, as many of the survivors and the families of the victims have said,… justice delayed, is justice denied, and I absolutely agree that this has to come as quickly as possible.”
Joe Middleton5 September 2024 08:01
Grenfell victims ‘still waiting for justice’
On Wednesday we covered the Grenfell inquiry’s damning report into the tragedy that claimed the life of 72 residents in 2017.
It concluded that all the deaths were avoidable and were the result of decades of failure from successive governments and the construction industry.
Grenfell United, which represents some of the victims’ families, said: “We have an expectation that the Met Police and the CPS ensure that those who are truly responsible are held to account and brought to justice.”
We will continue bringing you updates and reaction on this today.
Joe Middleton5 September 2024 08:00
Robert Jenrick in pole position to be next Tory leader as Priti Patel eliminated in first round of voting
Robert Jenrick has won the first round of voting in the race to be the next Conservative leader as Dame Priti Patel was eliminated.
The former immigration minister took 28 votes, beating the favourite Kemi Badenoch into second with the backing of 22 Tory MPs.
The other contenders still in the running are former security minister Tom Tugendhat, ex-home secretary James Cleverly and Mel Stride.
Next week the group will be whittled down again, to just four.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports
Joe Middleton5 September 2024 07:54
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to the our politics blog with live coverage of everything happening in the world of Wesminster and beyond.
Joe Middleton5 September 2024 07:52
