A source close to Ms Badenoch said “rushing into people’s support is a fool’s errand”, while an ally of Mr Gove said he would “take some time to decide” who to back. Figures in all three campaigns are said to be trying hard to win over Ms Badenoch’s supporters, some of whom have already announced different candidates.
“Unite the Party”
Since the vote is secret, there has been speculation that Mr Sunak’s supporters could try to influence who he would face by voting for the perceived weaker of his two rivals. Sunak’s campaign officials insisted Tuesday night that they were fighting for “every vote” and discouraged such behavior, but did not rule out the possibility that individual MPs could make such decisions independently. Ms Truss outlines her latest pitch for party and country in her Telegraph op-ed, issuing a message of “unity” that she hopes can get her over the line. In an olive brand in Ms Badenoch’s camp, she writes: “The quality of the candidates running in this leadership race reflects how healthy our party is and how alive with ideas it remains. If I am chosen as leader, I will not let my colleagues down and I will not let the country down. Now is the time to unite.” Meanwhile, Ms Mordaunt has announced new policies, including a push to solve Britain’s shortage of dentists by allowing more overseas workers to fill gaps, to broaden her vision for the country. A six-week summer campaign calls for the final two, with the next Tory leader and prime minister to be announced on September 5.
