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The 2019 Conservative Party leadership election was triggered when the prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party, Theresa May, announced on 24 May 2019 that she would resign as leader on 7 June, and resign as Prime Minister when a successor is elected.

Speculation about a leadership election first arose following the party's poor showing at the 2017 snap general election. May had called it in hope of increasing her parliamentary majority for Brexit negotiations. However, the Conservatives lost their overall majority in the House of Commons. Subsequent speculation arose from the difficulties May was having in getting a Brexit deal acceptable to the Conservative Party. These increased in November 2018, with members of the Eurosceptic European Research Group pushing for a vote of no confidence in May, which was defeated in December 2018. In 2019, Parliament repeatedly voted against May's proposed deal, leading to her announcement of her pending resignation.

After the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum saw a 52% to 48% vote in favour of leaving, David Cameron resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and as Prime Minister, triggering the 2016 Conservative Party leadership election.^[1] Theresa May, then serving as Home Secretary, won the contest after the withdrawal of Andrea Leadsom, and she succeeded Cameron as Prime Minister on 13 July 2016.^[2]

As Prime Minister, May began the process of withdrawing the UK from the European Union (Brexit), triggering Article 50 on 29 March 2017.^[3] In April 2017, May announced a snap general election in June, in order to "strengthen her hand" when she negotiated with the European Union.^[4] May aimed to substantially increase the Conservative Party's slim majority, with opinion polls originally predicting a landslide victory for her party.^[5] However, the result was a hung parliament, with the number of Conservative seats falling from 330 to 318.^[6] This prompted her to broker a confidence and supply deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to support her minority government.^[7]

May's handling of the campaign was widely criticised, particularly the role of her two chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, who both resigned within days of the result.^[8] In June 2017, George Osborne, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, described May as a "dead woman walking".^[9] A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times had 48% of respondents saying May should resign, with 38% against. A Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday showed a similar result.^[10] Former Cabinet minister Anna Soubry called for May to "consider her position" after the election result.^[11] Former Cabinet minister Nicky Morgan said that May could not lead the Conservative Party into the next general election and called for a leadership election in the summer or in 2018 before the Brexit deal would be finalised.^[12] After the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, May's leadership faced further criticism following her initial refusal to meet victims and her poor handling of the crisis.^[13]

With May's position weakened, senior figures in the party were said to be preparing for a leadership contest and "jostling for succession".^[14] Politicians and journalists did not expect May to lead the party at the next general election, with the Sunday Times Political Editor Tim Shipman describing "the first shots in a battle that could tear the government apart" in a July 2017 article as the three then-leading contenders for the leadership, David Davis, Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond, briefed against each other.^[15] Junior ministers were also said to be frustrated at Cabinet ministers propping up a Prime Minister with no authority in order to further their careers, with some ministers preparing to resign in order to trigger a leadership election. Andrew Mitchell, an ally of Davis, was said to have told a dinner that May was finished and was said to be organising letters to force May to announce her date of departure.^[16] A July 2017 report in The Independent said a core of fifteen Conservative MPs were ready to sign letters of no confidence, with forty-eight needed to trigger a contest.^[17]

May reportedly announced to Conservative MPs in August 2017 that she would resign as Prime Minister on 30 August 2019, making it likely that the next leadership election would take place in the summer of 2019.^[18] May then announced on 31 August 2017 that she intended to stay on to fight the next general election, which under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 was scheduled to be in 2022, though it can be held earlier.^[19]

On 16 September 2017, Johnson published an article in The Daily Telegraph laying out his vision for Brexit. Many saw this as a way of positioning himself for a leadership challenge, though some commentators such as Newsnight's political editor Nick Watt and columnist Iain Dale argued this was the wrong interpretation and that Johnson's motivation was to assert his influence in Brexit negotiations.^[20][21] The timing of the article—a few days before May was due to give a significant speech on her plans for the UK's relationship with Europe after Brexit, and shortly after a terrorist attack in London—was criticised.^[22][23]

Following Cabinet agreement for May's proposals on Brexit, Davis resigned as Brexit Secretary on 8 July 2018.^[24][25] Steve Baker, a minister in the same department, resigned later the same day.^[26] On the same day it was reported that May was facing the threat of a leadership contest amid mounting anger from Brexiteers over her government's Brexit policy.^[27] Conservative Party backbencher Andrea Jenkyns called for the Prime Minister to be replaced, saying "Theresa May's premiership is over".^[28][29] Johnson later resigned as Foreign Secretary on 9 July 2018.^[30]

A Daily Telegraph article by Johnson opposing the burqa ban in Denmark in early August 2018 sparked controversy about the language he used, saying women wearing the burqa look like letter boxes or bank robbers. Some^[who?] saw it as an attempt to court an anti-Islamic segment of the Conservative Party membership, who would be the electorate in the final stage of a leadership campaign.^[31] Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve said that he would not remain in the party if Johnson became leader.^[32]

In November 2018, May presented her final proposal for an initial Brexit deal following negotiations with the EU. Her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and others resigned from the Cabinet in response,^[33] with Jacob Rees-Mogg calling for a leadership election for the first time. Members of the Eurosceptic European Research Group like Rees-Mogg and Baker were seen to be launching a coup in mid-November following the Cabinet resignations. There was considerable speculation over whether enough letters of no confidence would be reached to trigger a vote.^[34]

Fifteen percent of the Parliamentary party (forty-eight MPs) need to send a letter to the chairman of the 1922 Committee to trigger a no confidence vote in the Conservative Party leader. As of early afternoon on 16 November 2018, the BBC reported there were twenty-one MPs who had publicly stated they had sent a letter.^[35] Baker asserted that more letters had been sent and that he expected forty-eight to be reached in the week beginning 19 November.^[36] Some commentators expressed scepticism about this prediction.^[37] By 19 November 2018, twenty-six MPs publicly said they had submitted letters.^[38] Baker also suggested that the ERG could draw lots for who would be their candidate in a leadership election.^[39] By 20 November, the forty-eight letters had not been reached, with Rees-Mogg predicting that it may be reached in December when the House of Commons was due to vote on May's deal.^[40] However, facing likely defeat with opposition from the ERG, DUP and Conservative MPs who had supported Remain during the referendum, the vote was delayed to January.

Conservative MPs including Dominic Grieve and Kwasi Kwarteng suggested that the party could see members leaving the party or a formal split if the party were led by Johnson.^[41]

By the beginning of 11 December, the public count was still at twenty-six letters from MPs. That day, however, Owen Paterson publicly sent his letter and it later became clear that forty-eight letters had been submitted.^[42][43] May was informed in the evening of 11 December and chose to contest the vote.^[44][45] The confidence vote, called for 6pm–8pm on 12 December, was a secret ballot of Conservative MPs.^[46][46]

In the week, May had been meeting EU leaders to discuss changes to her Brexit deal, but cancelled a planned 12 December meeting with the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in order to campaign to win the confidence vote.^[46] May and her supporters argued that a defeat for May would mean that Brexit would have to be delayed.^[47] In the late morning on 12 December, bookmakers gave May an 80% chance of winning the vote.^[48] In a speech to Conservative MPs immediately before voting, May said that she did not intend to lead the party into the 2022 general election.^[49] May also said that she would seek a legally binding addition to the withdrawal agreement with the EU to address concerns over the Northern Ireland back stop.^[50]

Two MPs who had been suspended from the party, Andrew Griffiths and Charlie Elphicke, had the whip restored on the day of the vote, meaning they could also vote. Griffiths indicated his support for May; Elphicke declined to indicate his preference.^[51] There were 317 Conservative MPs able to vote, meaning 159 votes were needed for a majority.^[44] Every member of the Cabinet declared their support for May, including Leave supporters in the Cabinet like Michael Gove and Liam Fox.^[44] Notable Remain supporters in the Conservative Party including Anna Soubry also declared support for May,^[44] as did May's predecessor, David Cameron, and the leader and acting leader of the Scottish Conservatives.^[52] The Tory Reform Group announced their support for May.^[53] Notable Leave supporters outside the Cabinet, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Bill Cash, said they would be voting against her.^[44] By 4pm, 174 Conservative MPs had publicly declared for May with 34 publicly against.^[44]

The pound initially fell on news of the no confidence vote, but rallied after indications that May would probably win.^[54]

May won the vote by 200 for to 117 against, in a result announced at about 9pm. Brexit-supporting MPs varied in their response to the result: some, including Rees-Mogg and Raab called on her to resign nevertheless, while others such as Paterson called on her to change her Brexit policy.^[55] As May won this vote, another party leader confidence vote could not be held for one year under standing rules.^[46]

On 27 March 2019, May said she would resign before the next stage of EU negotiations if her Brexit deal was passed.^[56] With no resolution around Brexit plans, there was continuing pressure for May to resign through April 2019.^[57]

After poor Conservative results in the 2019 local elections—the worst since 1995, when the party lost more than 2,000 seats—there were further calls from Conservatives for May to resign.^[58] Davis announced his support for Raab, who set out a leadership platform in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine.^[59][60] With one report saying May intended to remain until autumn 2019, further senior Conservatives openly campaigned to replace her, including Andrea Leadsom, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid.^[61]

May had said that she wanted Parliament to approve her Brexit plan before the summer recess, after which she would resign, which would have been around late July. Further pressure mounted on May to be clear about her timetable for departure, with May meeting the 1922 Committee on the matter on 16 May 2019.^[62] There was talk about the Committee changing its rules to allow a new vote of no confidence in May to be held sooner.^[63] May was reported to agree to stand down by 30 June 2019.^[64]

On 21 May, May made a speech outlining her plan to introduce an EU withdrawal agreement bill in June that would allow the Commons to make amendments, such as amendments in favour of a Customs Union or a second referendum, but this was received badly by much of her own party as well as by other parties.^[65] There were growing calls for her to resign on 22 May, the day before the European Parliament elections.^[65] Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, resigned on the evening of 22 May. May had planned to publish the bill on Friday 24 May, but on polling day (23 May) she abandoned that plan, with publication delayed until early June.^[66] May announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party, effective 7 June 2019, on the morning of 24 May.^[67]

The principles of the procedure for selecting the leader of the Conservative Party are laid down the Conservative Party Constitution, while the detailed rules are agreed by the 1922 Committee executive in consultation with the Conservative Party Board.^[68] Nominations for the leadership are invited by the Chairman of the 1922 Committee, acting as returning officer. When nominations close, a list of valid nominations is published. If there is only one valid nomination, that person is elected. If two valid nominations are received, both names go forward to the party membership. If more than two nominations are received, a ballot is held within the Parliamentary party. An exhaustive ballot system is used to select two candidates to go forward to the party membership. The 1922 Committee executive are considering changing the rules so that four candidates go to the ballot of the party membership.^[69]

Nominations will close in the week commencing 10 June 2019. The entire contest is expected to be completed by mid-July.^[70]

The following dates below are the dates when the ballots are expected to be held, voting will take place every Tuesday and Thursday.

A large number of candidates attracted attention or were the subject of speculation over an extended period before the election was called. In 2017, the main contenders were initially seen to be Philip Hammond, David Davis, Boris Johnson and Amber Rudd.^[71] By early August 2017, Jacob Rees-Mogg was receiving considerable attention and he had risen to second in the betting markets after Davis.^[72] There was considerable speculation that the party's leader in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, could stand to be the next leader despite being ineligible as she is not currently an MP at Westminster.^[73][74] In September 2018, she said that she did not want the job and would focus on politics in Scotland.^[75]

Following renewed speculation about May's leadership after Johnson and Davis resigned from the Cabinet in summer 2018, press interest focused on Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt.^[74][76][77] Dominic Raab became Brexit Secretary after Davis. In November 2018, following his resignation from the role over a proposed deal on the UK's departure from the European Union, Raab became the bookmakers' favourite to be new leader, followed by Javid or Johnson.^[78][79] Raab opposed holding a leadership election, but did not rule out his candidacy.^[80] Esther McVey, who resigned her position as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the same day, indicated that she would stand as a candidate if she had support.^[80]

By December 2018, Johnson, Javid and Rudd were all reported to be contemplating running if May were voted out.^[43] In November/December, other potential candidates included Gove, Hunt, Raab, Davis and Penny Mordaunt.^[81][82] Bookmakers had Johnson as most likely to succeed May on the morning of 12 December confidence vote.^[83]

On 2 May 2019, Rory Stewart, the International Development Secretary, announced his candidacy for the leadership. He stated that he would "bring the country together" as Prime Minister.^[84] Following a poor result for the party in the 2019 local elections on 2 May 2019, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock gave speeches and interviews that the journalist Tim Shipman described as a “beauty contest between those jostling to succeed Theresa May”.^[60] On 4 May 2019, David Davis announced he would not seek the party leadership, and would instead support Raab if he chose to run.^[85] On 8 May 2019, Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, stated she was "seriously considering" a second bid for the party leadership.^[86] On 9 May 2019, McVey announced she would be standing for the leadership. McVey stated that she had "enough support" from fellow MPs to "go forward" once May steps down as Prime Minister.^[87]

On 24 May, the day May resigned, Johnson told an economic conference in Switzerland that, "We will leave the EU on October 31, deal or no deal."^[88] Stewart ruled out serving in a cabinet under Johnson over his support for a no-deal Brexit that he believed was "undeliverable, unnecessary and is going to damage our country and economy."^[89] On the same day, Jeremy Hunt announced his candidacy for the leadership at a festival in his constituency.^[90] Matt Hancock,^[91] Dominic Raab,^[92] and Andrea Leadsom announced their candidacies the following day, 25 May;^[93] Michael Gove declared his own shortly afterwards, on 26 May,^[94] with Sajid Javid and Kit Malthouse following the next day.^[95]

On 28 May, Gove promised to remove the charge for UK citizenship applications from EU nationals if elected.^[96] Hunt condemned a no-deal Brexit as a "suicide" but McVey said it would be "political suicide" to not leave at the earliest opportunity.^[97] Both BBC News and Sky News invited candidates to debates.^[98] On 29 May, James Cleverly announced his candidacy.^[99] Hunt and Stewart both admitted during campaigning that they had taken illegal drugs in the past when abroad. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith warned on 30 May that there were too many candidates running and urged the 1922 committee to "accelerate the process."^[100] That same day, Mark Harper announced his candidacy, and the 1922 Committee said it would not artificially limit the number of candidates who could stand in the contest.^[101]

As of August 2024, the following 12 MPs have declared their intention to stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party:

Candidate	Political roles	Announced	Support from MPs	Other endorsements
James Cleverly	MP for Braintree (since 2015) Brexit Under-Secretary (since 2019)	29 May 2019[99]	4 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Colin Clark[102] Julian Knight[103] Stephen Metcalfe[104]
Michael Gove	MP for Surrey Heath (since 2005) Environment Secretary (since 2017) Justice Secretary (2015–2016) Education Secretary (2010–2014)	26 May 2019[94]	28 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Peter Aldous[105] Richard Bacon[106] Jack Brereton[107] Alberto Costa[108] David Duguid[109] George Eustice[107] Michael Fabricant[110] George Freeman[107] Nick Gibb[111] Luke Graham[103] John Hayes[107] Trudy Harrison[105] Kevin Hollinrake[111] Stephen Kerr[105] Edward Leigh[111] Rachel Maclean[112] Mark Menzies[113] Nicky Morgan[107] Bob Neill[107] Guy Opperman[107] Neil Parish[114] Bob Seely[111] John Stevenson[111] Mel Stride[115] Tom Tugendhat[116] Ed Vaizey[117] Giles Watling[107]
Matt Hancock	MP for West Suffolk (since 2010) Health Secretary (since 2018) Culture Secretary (January 2018–July 2018)	25 May 2019[118]	12 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Bim Afolami[111] Andrew Bowie[119] Tracey Crouch[115] Caroline Dinenage[107] Jonathan Djanogly[120] Damian Green[121] Stephen Hammond[115] Seema Kennedy[122] Paul Masterton[123] Caroline Spelman[106] Maggie Throup[111]	Other endorsements Individuals Rupert Harrison[115] Organisations Tattersalls[115]
Mark Harper	MP for Forest of Dean (since 2005) Chief Whip (2015–2016)	30 May 2019[124]	4 / 313 Endorsements from MPs David Evennett[107] Steve Double[107] Luke Hall[107]
Jeremy Hunt	MP for South West Surrey (since 2005) Foreign Secretary (since 2018) Health Secretary (2012–2018) Culture Secretary (2010–2012)	24 May 2019[125]	30 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Harriett Baldwin[107] Steve Brine[115] James Cartlidge[115] Jo Churchill[107] Leo Docherty[107] Philip Dunne[115] Mark Field[107] Vicky Ford[107] Mike Freer[107] Roger Gale[126] Mark Garnier[107] Nus Ghani[107] Robert Goodwill[107] Richard Graham[107] Oliver Heald[107] Nick Herbert[107] John Howell[127] Andrew Jones[107] Daniel Kawczynski[107] John Lamont[107] Patrick McLoughlin[107] Alan Mak[105] David Morris[128] James Morris[107] Will Quince[107] John Penrose[107] Mark Prisk[129] Alec Shelbrooke[107] Helen Whately[107]	Other endorsements Former MPs and MEPs Rob Wilson[130]
Sajid Javid	MP for Bromsgrove (since 2010) Home Secretary (since 2018) Communities Secretary (2016–2018) Business Secretary (2015–2016) Culture Secretary (2014–2015)	27 May 2019[131]	17 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Lucy Allan[102] Edward Argar[132] Fiona Bruce[102] Stephen Crabb[107] David Davies[107] Mims Davies[107] Kevin Foster[107] John Glen[115] Robert Halfon[111] Simon Hoare[107] Chris Philp[115] Mary Robinson[133] Andrew Selous[134] Chris Skidmore[111] Robin Walker[102] Mike Wood[105]	Other endorsements Individuals Matthew Elliott[115] Rami Ranger[115] Ian Taylor[115]
Boris Johnson	MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (since 2015) Foreign Secretary (2016–2018) Mayor of London (2008–2016) MP for Henley (2001–2008)	16 May 2019[135]	29 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Nigel Adams[115] Stuart Andrew[136] Jake Berry[115] Peter Bone[137] Andrew Bridgen[107] Conor Burns[115] Simon Clarke[138] Nadine Dorries[111] Nigel Evans[107] Zac Goldsmith[139] Jo Johnson[107] David Jones[105] Anne Main[122] Johnny Mercer[111] Amanda Milling[107] Sheryll Murray[105] Mike Penning[107] Jacob Rees-Mogg[111] Andrew Rosindell[107] Grant Shapps[122] Alok Sharma[140] Desmond Swayne[141] Ross Thomson[107] David Tredinnick[122] Anne-Marie Trevelyan[107] Matt Warman[107] John Whittingdale[139] Gavin Williamson[142]	Other endorsements Former MPs and MEPs David Campbell Bannerman[143] Stewart Jackson[144] Karl McCartney[111] James Wharton[115] Peers Anthony Bamford[115] Individuals Paul Staines[145] Tim Stanley[146]
Andrea Leadsom	MP for South Northamptonshire (since 2010) Leader of the House of Commons (2017–2019) Environment Secretary (2016–2017)	25 May 2019[93]	4 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Chris Heaton-Harris[115] Tim Loughton[115] Heather Wheeler[115]
Kit Malthouse	MP for North West Hampshire (since 2015) Housing Minister (since 2018) Deputy Mayor of London (2008–2016)	27 May 2019[95]	6 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Richard Benyon[147] Alex Burghart[148] George Hollingbery[149] Paul Maynard[150] Sarah Newton[148]
Esther McVey	MP for Tatton (since 2017) Work and Pensions Secretary (January 2018–November 2018) MP for Wirral West (2010–2015)	9 May 2019[151]	6 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Ben Bradley[152] Philip Davies[115] Pauline Latham[111] Andrew Lewer[153] Gary Streeter[152]
Dominic Raab	MP for Esher and Walton (since 2010) Brexit Secretary (July 2018–November 2018)	25 May 2019[154]	22 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Henry Bellingham[107] Suella Braverman[115] Maria Caulfield[107] Rehman Chishti[155] Robert Courts[156] David Davis[157] Helen Grant[111] Chris Green[107] Eddie Hughes[107] Andrea Jenkyns[158] Gareth Johnson[107] Jonathan Lord[122] Maria Miller[159] Anne-Marie Morris[160] Andrew Murrison[107] Tom Pursglove[161] Hugo Swire[162] Robert Syms[115] Michael Tomlinson[107] Shailesh Vara[115] Nadhim Zahawi[163]	Other endorsements Organisations Arbuthnot Banking Group[162]
Rory Stewart	MP for Penrith and the Border (since 2010) International Development Secretary (since May 2019)	2 May 2019[164]	3 / 313 Endorsements from MPs Victoria Prentis[165] Nicholas Soames[166]

As of August 2024, the following MPs have publicly expressed interest in the leadership of the Conservative Party:

• Steve Baker, MP for Wycombe and joint Deputy Chair of the European Research Group^[167]
• Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee from 2010 to 2019^{[168][169][170]}
• Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary since 2016^[171][172]
• Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2016^[173]
• Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for Defence since May 2019 and Minister for Women and Equalities since April 2018^[174][175]
• Jesse Norman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury since May 2019^[176]
• Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development from 2016 to 2017^[177][178]

As of August 2024, the following MPs have received recent speculation as potential leadership candidates.

• Stephen Barclay, Brexit Secretary since 2018^[179]
• Geoffrey Cox, Attorney General of England and Wales since 2018^[180][181]
• Penny Mordaunt, Defence Secretary since May 2019^[181]

• Ken Clarke, Father of the House of Commons, MP for Rushcliffe since 1970^[182]
• David Davis, Brexit Secretary from 2016 to 2018^[183] (endorsed Raab)
• Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green and Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003^[184]
• Justine Greening, Education Secretary from 2016 to 2018^{[185][186][187]}
• Nicky Morgan, chair of the Treasury Select Committee since 2017^[188][107] (endorsed Gove)
• Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the European Research Group since 2017^[189] (endorsed Johnson)
• Amber Rudd, Work and Pensions Secretary since 2018 and former Home Secretary^[190][191]
• Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2017^[192]

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• 12 December: Conservative Party MPs vote against a motion of no confidence in May's leadership, 200 to 117. May also announces that she will not lead the Conservative Party into the next general election.
• 15 January: The May government loses the first "meaningful vote" on Brexit by 432 to 202, the largest defeat for a sitting government in modern history.
• 16 January: The House of Commons vote against a motion of no confidence, 325 to 306, moved by Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn.
• 12 March: The government loses the second "meaningful vote" by 391 to 242.
• 27 March: Theresa May announces she will resign before the next phase of negotiations if the Brexit withdrawal agreement is approved by MPs on 29 March.
• 29 March: The government loses the third "meaningful vote" by 344 to 286.

• 2 May:
  • The Conservatives lose more than 1,300 council seats and control of 44 councils in United Kingdom local elections.
  • Rory Stewart announces his intention to contest the leadership of the Conservative Party after Theresa May steps down.
• 9 May: Esther McVey announces her intention to contest the leadership of the Conservative Party.
• 16 May: Boris Johnson announces his intention to contest the leadership of the Conservative Party.
• 23 May: European Parliament elections are held in the United Kingdom.
• 24 May:
  • Theresa May reveals that she will resign as party leader on 7 June, and subsequently as prime minister when a new leader is elected.
  • Jeremy Hunt announces his candidacy for the leadership election.
• 25 May:
  • Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab and Andrea Leadsom announce their candidacies.
• 26 May:
  • Michael Gove announces his candidacy.
  • Results of the European Parliament election are released, showing the Conservatives placing fifth nationally and losing fourteen of eighteen seats.
• 27 May:
  • Sajid Javid and Kit Malthouse announce their candidacies.
• 29 May:
  • James Cleverly announces his candidacy.
• 30 May:
  • Mark Harper announces his candidacy.

On 28 May, the BBC announced plans to hold televised leadership debates for the candidates that would take place once nominations had closed. All candidates who had not yet been eliminated would be invited to take part in a hustings debate chaired by Emily Maitlis, followed by a Question Time special with Fiona Bruce. The final two candidates would then have a one-to-one interview with Andrew Neil. On the same day Sky News also announced plans for a head-to-head leadership debate between the final two candidates in front of an audience of Conservative Party members.^[194]

• Next United Kingdom general election
• 2019 Liberal Democrats leadership election

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