After Rishi Sunak, will Indian-origin UK MP Priti Patel lead the Conservative Party? What are her chances?

Priti Patel, the former United Kingdom home secretary, has decided to enter the Conservative Party leadership race after being “urged to run” by fellow MPs, reports by various UK media outlets suggest.

Patel, who has been the MP for Witham in Essex since 2010, retained her seat this month during the UK general election with a reduced majority of 5,145. This marks the first time the 52-year-old has made a bid for the leadership, joining a contest expected to include Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, and possibly Suella Braverman, among others.

Who is Priti Patel?

Born on March 29, 1972, in London to Gujarati parents who fled Uganda in the 1960s, Patel was educated at Watford Grammar School for Girls. She earned an economics degree from Keele University and pursued postgraduate studies in British government and politics at the University of Essex.

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Before her political career, Patel worked at Conservative Central Office and in the private sector, including roles at Weber Shandwick and Diageo.

Patel’s political journey began in earnest when she was elected as MP for Witham in 2010. She achieved ministerial rank in 2014 and has since held several key positions, including Exchequer Secretary to the UK Treasury, UK Minister for Employment and most recently the UK Home Secretary.

Her right-wing stance is reflected in her voting record, including her opposition to gay marriage and advocacy for tougher immigration policies.

How is Priti Patel preparing for her bid?

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Patel has already assembled a campaign team funded by “high-profile” Tory donors.

She has hired a respected member of the House of Lords as her campaign treasurer and brought on board former advisers and Conservative Campaign Headquarters staff experienced in past leadership elections, reported UK’s The Telegraph.

Patel’s backers believe she is the only candidate who can unite the party and garner support from a broad spectrum of Conservative MPs.

A source close to Patel told The Telegraph, “Priti has kept a low profile and done her best to support others, she feels colleagues also need time to digest the general election result and don’t want posturing in the media from prospective candidates.”

Does Priti Patel have a chance?

Patel’s political career has been marked by both achievements and controversies. Serving as International Development Secretary under former UK PM Theresa May and then UK Home Secretary under Boris Johnson, she has faced scrutiny for her conduct.

In 2020, Johnson’s adviser on standards, Alex Allan, ruled that Patel had "unintentionally" breached the ministerial code, citing instances of “shouting and swearing.” Johnson, however, rejected the findings and expressed “full confidence” in Patel.

Despite this, Patel offered a “fulsome apology” but argued she was not adequately supported by the UK Home Office at the time.

Patel has also played significant roles in addressing crises such as the London Bridge and Streatham stabbing attacks, as well as implementing a new points-based immigration system post-Brexit. Her stance on immigration and law enforcement, alongside her right-wing policies, aligns with the views of many within the party.

Who is Patel going to face?

Kemi Badenoch, currently the favourite to succeed former UK PM Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tories, has caused concern among some MPs with her outspoken comments about Sunak and Braverman following the Tories’ general election defeat. Badenoch has foundations in Nigeria and has also spent time in the United States growing up.

Badenoch criticised Sunak and accused Braverman of having a “very public” nervous breakdown. While Badenoch is popular with Conservative Party members, some MPs doubt her ability to appeal to centrists and feel she lacks experience, reported The Telegraph.

Other potential candidates include Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, and Robert Jenrick. Tugendhat, who came a distant fifth in the 2022 leadership race, is expected to confirm his run within weeks.

The failure of Penny Mordaunt to retain her seat means the moderate wing of the party may now rally behind these figures, though none have the profile of Patel.

When will Rishi Sunak vacate the post? 

The rules and timeline for the leadership contest will be determined by the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs, which recently appointed Bob Blackman as its new chair. Candidates need to secure the backing of enough MPs to make it into the final two, who will then be voted on by party members.

While some senior Tories advocate for a swift contest to avoid further damage to the party’s public image, others suggest a more prolonged process to allow candidates to present their visions thoroughly.

UK Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell proposed that Rishi Sunak should remain as leader until November to provide stability, reported Sky News.

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Mitchell highlighted the need for a debate at the Conservative Party conference and referenced Michael Howard’s delayed departure in 2005, which eventually led to David Cameron’s leadership and electoral victories.

With inputs from agencies