2018 Conservative Party leadership election

The 2018 Conservative Party leadership election occurred as a result of Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation as party leader. He had resigned as part of a pledge made in the 2015 general election campaign that he would not seek a third term as Prime Minister. Cameron, who had initially intended to resign in 2019, decided to step down one year early so as to give his successor more time before the next election, which was then scheduled for 2020. Cameron announced his resignation on 24 May, saying that he would step down as Prime Minister after a new leader had been chosen. George Osborne won the contest on 11 July 2018, after the withdrawal of Michael Gove left him as the sole candidate.

Conservative Members of Parliament had voted initially in a series of ballots to determine which two candidates would go forward to a nationwide ballot of Conservative Party members for the final decision. Five Conservative MPs put themselves forward as candidates: Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Chairman of the European Research Group Steve Baker, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson, seen as the front runner by political analysts, surprised many commentators by choosing not to run after Gove withdrew his backing and announced his own candidacy.

In the first-round ballot, Osborne, gaining the support of nearly half of Conservative MPs, was placed first with Gove in third place, whilst Baker shocked pundits by coming third with 64 backers. Stewart was eliminated on the first ballot. Baker was eliminated in the second round of voting. Before the Conservative Party members were due to cast their votes, Gove withdrew from the contest on 11 July. Osborne was appointed party leader later that day, and Prime Minister on 13 July. He appointed Gove and Stewart to his Cabinet, respectively as Foreign Secretary (together with the office of First Secretary of State), International Trade Secretary, and Business Secretary.

If not for Gove's withdrawal, Conservative Party members would have directly elected a new Prime Minister for the first time.