Deputy Chair Resigns to Support Jenrick

Matthew Vickers, the Conservative Party's deputy chair, has announced his resignation to endorse Robert Jenrick in the ongoing leadership contest. While Vickers also holds the position of shadow policing minister, he is not required to step back from this role to support a candidate. However, due to Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) maintaining a neutral stance in the leadership race, Vickers has chosen to resign from his deputy chair position. Vickers, who was appointed deputy chair in 2022, emphasized the importance of openly supporting a candidate after chairing a leadership hustings for northern Tory members. He expressed his belief that the party faces significant challenges and needs a leader capable of restoring public trust. "We have a mountain to climb and need a leader that can bring us back in one term," he stated, highlighting Jenrick's strong communication skills and credibility. In response, Jenrick welcomed Vickers' support, recognizing him as a respected figure within the party and a champion for the North East. The leadership contest is heating up, with a recent poll indicating that James Cleverly is currently the frontrunner among Tory members, garnering 26% support. Following him are Dame Priti Patel at 20%, Kemi Badenoch at 14%, Tom Tugendhat at 11%, Robert Jenrick at 10%, and Mel Stride at 4%. The candidates will participate in a "beauty contest" during the Conservative Party conference from September 29 to October 2, where MPs will vote to narrow the field down to two contenders.