Back زعيم حزب المحافظين (المملكة المتحدة) Arabic Ηγέτης του Συντηρητικού Κόμματος (Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο) Greek رهبر حزب محافظهکار بریتانیا Persian Chef du Parti conservateur (Royaume-Uni) French מנהיג המפלגה השמרנית (הממלכה המאוחדת) HE Pemimpin Partai Konservatif (Britania Raya) ID Pemimpin Parti Konservatif (UK) Malay Leder av det konservative parti (Storbritannia) NB Liderzy brytyjskiej Partii Konserwatywnej Polish Líder do Partido Conservador Portuguese
| Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party | |
|---|---|
&sq=Boris Johnson&lang=en&file=File:Conservatives_logo.svg){kind=logo} Logo for the Conservative Party | |
| Type | Party leader |
| Status | Chief executive officer |
| Inaugural holder | Robert Peel (de facto) Bonar Law (de jure) |
| Formation | 1834 (de facto) 1922 (de jure) |
&sq=Boris Johnson&lang=en&file=File:Official_portrait_of_Rishi_Sunak_2022_(cropped).jpg)
The leader of the Conservative Party (officially the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the highest position within the United Kingdom's Conservative Party. The current holder of the position is Rishi Sunak, who was elected to the position on 24 October 2022, following his unopposed victory in the party's leadership election.[1]
From the party's formation in 1834 until 1922, the leader of the Conservative Party was not a formal position; instead, there was a party leader in each chamber of Parliament, and they were considered equal unless one took precedence over the other, such as when one was serving as prime minister. Following the passage of the Parliament Act 1911, the reduction of power in the House of Lords suggested that the Conservative leader in the House of Commons would be preeminent, but this fact was not formalised until 1922.
Since 1922, a leader of the Conservative Party has been formally elected, even when the party is in opposition. Originally, the party leader was appointed opaquely by other high-ranking members of the party. This process was gradually democratised in the late 20th century; in 1965, the appointment was linked to a vote by party MPs, and in 1998, the process was opened to all party members to decide between the last two candidates selected by parliamentarians.[2][3] Under party rules, members can vote in the Conservative leadership even if they are not British citizens, do not live in the UK and do not have the right to vote in a UK general election.[4][5]
When the Conservative Party is in government, as it currently is, the leader would usually become the prime minister of the United Kingdom, first lord of the Treasury and minister for the civil service, as well as appointing the cabinet. Concordantly, when the Party is in opposition, the leader of the Conservative Party usually acts (as the second largest party) as the Leader of the Opposition, and chairs the shadow cabinet. As of October 2022, three of the party's leaders have been women: Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Liz Truss, all of whom have served as prime minister. Rishi Sunak is the first British Asian party leader and prime minister.[6]
- ^ "Rishi Sunak, UK's next PM, faces major economic problems". AP NEWS. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Constitution of the Conservative Party" (PDF). January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2021.
- ^ Alexandre-Collier, Agnès (1 November 2018). "Brexit reveals the fractures of the British Conservatives". Le Monde diplomatique (in French). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ Nevett, Joshua (12 August 2022). "Tory leadership election: Meet the overseas voters picking the next PM". BBC News.
- ^ Smith, Hannah (10 August 2022). "Who can vote in the Conservative leadership contest?".
- ^ "Rishi Sunak: A quick guide to the UK's new prime minister". BBC News. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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