Britain First urges supporters to back ‘anti-woke’ candidate Kemi Badenoch

Michael Gove explains why he’s backing Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch is currently fourth in the Conservative leadership race after the third vote took place on Monday night. The MP for Saffron Walden in Essex is campaigning on an “anti-woke” and a small Government platform.

Mrs Badenoch beat Tom Tugendhat last night in the third Conservative leadership vote after receiving 58 votes, up by nine votes since the second vote.

Former Chancellor Remi Sunak has taken the lead with 115 votes, up by 14 votes.

In second place is Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt with 82 votes.

Third place is Foreign Secretary Liz Truss with 71 votes.

The MP for Saffron Walden in Essex is campaigning on an |anti-woke” and a small Government platform (Image: Getty Images)

After the vote, Britain First officially endorsed Kemi Badenoch as their candidate.

In a press release, the party claims to have thousands of members join the Conservative Party to help Boris Johnson win the previous Conservative leadership election in 2019.

They also described other leadership candidates Mr Sunak, Ms Truss, and Ms Mordaunt as part of the “liberal wing” of the Conservative party.

Britain First Leader Paul Golding said: “Britain does not need any more woke, politically correct, remainer Prime Ministers.

“Britain First will do whatever it can to ensure that genuine patronic, small ‘c’ conservative values triumph.”

READ MORE: Truss campaign on the ropes as Gove urges MPs to switch to Kemi

Mrs Badenoch beat Tom Tugendhat last night in the third Conservative leadership vote (Image: Getty Images)

Ms Badenoch’s supporters could decide if Ms Tuss and Ms Mordaunt make it to the final vote (Image: Getty Images)

After the conservative leadership vote, the former equalities minister took to Twitter to thank the colleagues who supported her.

Ms Badenoch announced she is “in it to win” and said: “It’s all the play for. Continued momentum, closing the gap, I am the only change candidate left in the race.”

The Saffron Walden MP was elected in 2017 and has never been in Cabinet.

Despite her inexperience, Ms Badenoch will have a great deal of influence in the final vote to determine the next Prime Minister.

If she is voted out in Tuesday’s leadership vote, her supporters could decide if Ms Tuss or Ms Mordaunt make it into the final vote for Prime Minister.

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Among Ms Badenoch’s supporters is Michael Gove, who described the Tory candidate as “star quality”.

Mr Gove said: “Everything could align, it is possible. What we have seen in this race is that the more people see of Kemi, the more impressed they are.”

Mr Tugendhat has not endorsed any candidate yet, but in a statement said: “I’m going to listen to what they have to say and I’ll be making my judgement later.”

Ms Badenoch praised the former Conservative leader candidate on Twitter.

She tweeted: “Thank you and well done to my friend Tom Tugendhat on a well-fought campaign.

“Like me, he loves our country deeply and I know he would be an asset to my future Conservative Government.”