Watch the moment GB News’s Political Editor Christopher Hope is lost for words after the latest round of voting in the Tory leadership contest.
Despite James Cleverly appearing odds on to be one of the final two, he was knocked out at the penultimate stage in a major upset.
Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick, the two right-wing candidates, will now face-off for the Tory leadership.
“I’m very rarely surprised in politics, but I am astounded by what has happened”, he said.
The result left Chopper shocked
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“Literally no one thought that James Cleverly would go out this round. He looked like he would hoover up the spare 20 votes from Tom Tugendhat, he is the centre-left candidate.
“Instead, unbelievably, he has gone back by two, Jenrick has gone ahead by 10 and Kemi Badenoch has won the MPs' vote.
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“No one saw that coming. I am going to have to explain this to viewers at some point.
“These Tory MPs are the most extraordinary electorate, no one saw Kemi Badenoch winning the vote and Robert Jenrick coming second.
“Cleverly is now out. It is extraordinary.”
GB News star Martin Daubney questioned whether an underlying fear held within the Tory Party won out.
Chopper joined Martin to give his immediate reaction
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He cited a Telegraph story by Allison Pearson where the reporter declared that a win for Cleverly would see her turn to Reform UK.
“I am not saying Pearson swayed this, but thousands of Conservatives seem to agree with her”, he said.
“You can’t keep putting the centrist candidate out, hoping to please everyone.”
The final round of the contest will now see Tory members across the UK vote to select the successor to Rishi Sunak.
James Cleverly was seen as the clear favourite
PAThe result will be announced on November 2.
Cleverly was seen as the more centre-ground Tory, while Badenoch and Jenrick are perceived by many to be to the right of the party.
The result shocked Westminster and beyond, with Cleverly tipped by bookmakers to win the contest after Tuesday’s round of voting, where Tom Tugendhat was knocked out.
Many felt the MPs who backed Tugendhat would shift their loyalties to Cleverly, given their close ideological proximity.