Robert Jenrick has emerged as a surprise frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership race, raising £250,000 in funds by the end of August, outpacing his rivals. The former immigration minister leads in both fundraising and support among Conservative MPs, ahead of Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat.
Under the party's 'pay to play' rules, candidates must pay £50,000 to reach the final four, and an additional £150,000 to make the final two. Jenrick's fundraising success positions him well, while others lag behind. Badenoch raised around £200,000, Cleverly just under £100,000, Tugendhat £70,000, and Mel Stride only £30,000.
Jenrick's donors include a firm owned by the wife of former Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, contributing £20,000, and £75,000 from a company controlled by lawyer Mark Dembovsky. Badenoch's major donors include businessman Charles Keymer (£50,000), Conservative peer Dambisa Moyo (£10,000), and investor James Mellon (£10,000).
Priti Patel, who left the race this week, had raised over £180,000, including £70,000 from major Tory donor Lubov Chernukhin, but failed to gain enough MP support. Some of Patel's supporters are expected to back Badenoch, boosting her numbers.
The next stage sees candidates eliminated based on MP support, with four giving speeches at the party conference in early October before the final two are chosen. Jenrick has pitched to the right on migration, despite his centrist past, and now leads with bookmakers.
