General Election
A record number of Cabinet ministers lost their seats on Friday in Britain’s general election, leaving only a couple of obvious contenders for the party leadership if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak resigns.
Nine members of Sunak’s top team failed to be re-elected, surpassing the previous high of seven who lost in 1997, as the ruling Conservatives faced a significant defeat at the hands of the main opposition Labour party.
The most high-profile casualty was Grant Shapps, the UK’s defence secretary for nearly a year, who lost his Welwyn Hatfield seat north of London. Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the Commons, who gained international attention as a sword carrier at King Charles III’s coronation last May, lost her seat in Portsmouth North on England’s south coast.
Mordaunt, a former defence secretary, had twice attempted to become Tory leader and was tipped to try again after the election, with Sunak expected to step down.
Other notable Tory losses included Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Transport Secretary Michelle Donelan, and Science Secretary Johnny Mercer.
Brexit champion Jacob Rees-Mogg also lost his seat, reflecting voters’ growing dissatisfaction with the Conservatives after 14 years in power.
These defeats have prompted introspection among re-elected and departing Conservatives, who acknowledge that the party was punished for recent scandals and infighting.
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, who lost his seat, remarked on the party’s astonishing lack of discipline during the election.
Shapps, an MP since 2005, criticized the Tories’ inability to resolve their differences, highlighting the political “soap opera” that saw five prime ministers since the 2016 Brexit vote. He emphasized that the Conservatives lost more than Labour won.
Right-winger Suella Braverman, who was sacked as interior minister by Sunak last year for her incendiary comments, was re-elected. Finance minister Jeremy Hunt narrowly survived to retain his seat.
Current interior minister James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch, and security minister Tom Tugendhat also held on to their seats. These high-profile survivors are expected to vie for the leadership.
In her victory speech, Braverman apologized to voters, acknowledging that the Tories had failed to listen. “The Conservative party let you down… we have got to do better and I will do everything in my power to rebuild trust. We need to listen to you. You have spoken to us very clearly,” she said.
The election results reflect a significant shift in British politics, with the Labour party making substantial gains at the expense of the Conservatives.
The leadership contest that follows Sunak’s anticipated resignation will be crucial in determining the future direction of the party.
