Liz Truss Group Picks Candidates to Replace Rishi Sunak

Members of a Tory pressure group established by former Prime Minister Liz Truss are advocating for either Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick to lead the Conservative Party, expressing a lack of confidence in current MPs to make the right choice. The Popular Conservatism faction, which emerged earlier this year, criticized the disconnect between Conservative MPs and party members, particularly in light of the party's poor performance in the recent General Election. In a recent survey conducted among the faction's supporters, Robert Jenrick emerged as the preferred candidate with 28.4%, closely followed by Badenoch at 28.2%. Dame Priti Patel, the former Home Secretary associated with the controversial Rwanda immigration project, garnered 17.4%. However, a significant 76% of respondents expressed skepticism about the ability of Tory MPs to select suitable candidates for the leadership race. Mark Littlewood, director of Popular Conservatism, emphasized the need for the next leader to bridge the gap between grassroots members and the parliamentary party. He noted that immigration is the primary concern for party members, with 54.7% identifying it as the top priority, followed by economic issues at 23.9%. Other concerns such as health, education, law and order, and the environment received minimal attention. As the leadership campaign unfolds, Littlewood remarked that while Jenrick has run a strong campaign thus far, there is still considerable ground to cover before a final decision is made. The faction's focus on immigration and the perceived disconnect within the party could significantly influence the outcome of the leadership contest.