Jacob Rees-Mogg reveals who he is backing to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader
The former Business Secretary has endorsed a candidate in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory party.
Former Cabinet Minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has backed Robert Jenrick to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory Party.
Kemi Badenoch and former Tory minister Robert Jenrick are the two contenders that Conservative members will be able to vote for ahead of the November 2 result.
Sir Jacob said: "I have decided to support Robert Jenrick because he understands the depth of the challenge the Conservatives face and the gumption to do something about it."
Speaking on GB News, he added: "I think Kemi Badenoch has many virtues. 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. We put corporation tax up to 25%. We must change from that, and I think Robert will be able to do that, which is why I'm supporting him.”
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Mr Jenrick, a former Tory minister had earlier said he wanted to use the leadership race to “settle some of the big questions facing our party and our country”.
In what appeared to be a swipe at his rival, the Newark MP added: “That was surely the purpose of having this long contest. Not to spend months debating personalities, not to say there will be a plan tomorrow but we don’t know what it is.
“That is a recipe for more infighting and for more loss of public trust. So what I stand for, and this does differ from some of the other candidates that have put themselves forward over the course of this contest, is I have set out very clear policy answers.”
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Mr Jenrick, a former immigration minister, also warned the Conservatives would not survive if they do not “get serious” about migration.
“I say leave the European Convention on Human Rights, cap migration in the tens of thousands and regain the trust of the British public,” he added.
Meanwhile the main Conservative centrist group has said it would not endorse either of the two contenders because of concern the party risks splitting in a lurch to the right.
The Tory Reform Group, seen as the main forum for one-nation Conservatives, condemned Mrs Badenoch and Mr Jenrick for having “used rhetoric and focused on issues which are far and away from the party at its best”.
