/u/model-willem has withdrawn from the Conservative Party leadership race, which leaves the only remaining candidate, /u/Yukub, a clear run for leadership of his party.

In the first round of voting /u/model-willem, the Foreign Secretary, made a surprise fightback in receiving 12 first preference votes from his party and tying with the favourite, /u/Yukub. This led many to question whether the presumed coronation of the veteran Tory MP as leader was in fact premature.

However, The Times was told this morning that /u/model-willem has withdrawn from the race ahead of the imminent final round of voting. A source within the party informed us this was the result of internal discussions where the membership highlighted concerns that the Foreign Secretary’s conduct in the past rendered him a "liability" should he win the leadership contest.

We reached out to /u/model-willem to ask why he dropped out of the race, and he said, "Because I believe that Yukub will be a good man for the job who can start with a clean sheet to bring us back to the top of the polls."

It is not clear how the Conservative Party will now run the final vote; will /u/Yukub win by default? Will there be a simple vote of confidence? Or will he have to compete with an option to re-open nominations? Conservative Party staffers are understood to be consulting the rule book on the best way to proceed.

The long-term ramifications of this course of events is also unclear. /u/model-willem was notably one of the former Classical Liberals who merged into the Conservative Party, and three of his public endorsements came from former Classical Liberal MPs. Together with /u/Brookheimer’s opinion piece a few days ago, where he said the Tory “old guard” still wielded significant influence, it is possible that /u/model-willem’s withdrawal from the leadership contest will become a stake in the ground for former Classical Liberals who feel marginalised within the Conservative Party.