JASON GROVES: The 'disastrous miscalculation' that could have cost clear-favourite James Cleverly the Tory leadership race By Jason Groves, Political Editor For The Daily Mail Published: 16:41, 9 October 2024 | Updated: 17:06, 9 October 2024 e-mail 210 View comments Committee Room 14 in the Commons is no stranger to drama. The vast wood-panelled room has hosted the Tory Party's backbench 1922 Committee for decades and has been the scene of innumerable rows, plots and leadership contests. But it has rarely seen a shock to match today's, when former home secretary James Cleverly was dumped out of the leadership race just 24 hours after taking a seemingly impregnable lead .
As politicians and journalists gathered in the chilly room this afternoon, the discussion was focused solely on whether Robert Jenrick or Kemi Badenoch would be ejected from the contest – and who Mr Cleverly would face in the final round. No surprise then that when the final result was read out by 1922 chairman Bob Blackman there were audible gasps as people tried to process the outcome. Mr Cleverly, who was installed as the clear favourite following a barnstorming speech at last week's Tory conference, was out.
James Cleverly crashed out of the race for the Conservative leadership in dramatic fashion today Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee (centre), announces the results of the ballot in the fourth round in the Conservative Party leadership contest What had just happened? How had Mr Cleverly gon.