Rishi Sunak Stays on as Interim Tory Leader with Election Set for November

Rishi Sunak will remain the UK's interim Opposition Leader for over three months as the Conservative Party prepares to elect his successor by November. The 1922 Committee outlined a two-phase process beginning with nominations and ending with the new leader being declared on November 2.

Rishi Sunak will serve as the interim Opposition Leader in the UK for more than three months following the Conservative Party's decision to elect a new leader by November. Nominations for the leadership race open on Wednesday.

The 1922 Committee of backbench MPs announced a two-phase election process, culminating on November 2 with the installation of a new leader. Sunak, who resigned on July 5 after the party's general election defeat, will remain in position until then.

“I will stay in post until November 2 when the leadership election results are declared,” said Sunak. This will allow the party to function professionally and effectively as the official opposition. Leading Tories expected to contest include Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, and others. Nominations require a proposer, seconder, and eight additional endorsements, with the final decision to be made through an online ballot closing on October 31.