Has Robert Jenrick run out of momentum?

There are just ten days to go until the end of the great Tory leadership race. It has been a mammoth affair, stretching back to Rishi Sunak’s resignation at the beginning of July, with twists at every turn. There have been four ballots, in which three different candidates came top: a reflection of the unpredictable nature of the contest. Many thought it unlikely that both Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch could make it to the membership round together and yet, here they are: the final two.

The Jenrick campaign got off to a strong start, quickly collecting an array of MP endorsements. The former immigration minister comfortably came top of the first two ballots at the beginning of September and entered the final four stage in a confident mood. His team put out bullish briefings that they would get the necessary 40 MPs to progress to the last round. But his conference speech was judged to have fallen a little flat.