Nadhim Zahawi shared his condolences with his campaign manager Brandon Lewis last night at dinner at an exclusive private club in London after falling from the Tory lead race.
The Chancellor, who was thrown out after the first round Jeremy Huntwas joined by his wife Lana, who shone in a £1,300 Gucci velvet shirt with matching trousers.
Ms Zahawi, 56, is a director of Zahawi & Zahawi Ltd, a family property empire said to be worth £100million. She also wore a £2,767 NeverNoT yellow gold ring and a £395 crystal ring by Bea Bongiasca.
The pair were joined by Mr Lewis and his wife Justine Rappolt. Both men wore suits and unbuttoned shirts, while Ms Rappolt opted for a £245 pale blue Reiss jumpsuit.
The intimate dinner took place at Oswald’s, a private members’ club founded in 2017 by Robin Birley. It has since become popular with leading Tories such as Liz Truss, Michael Gove and Boris and Carrie Johnson.
Meanwhile, Priti Patel was also in Mayfair at the five-star Connaught Hotel, which she left around midnight after enjoying drinks.
The home secretary – who announced she would not be running for PM on Tuesday – beamed as she pulled into a government car in a £210 Boden midi dress.
Nadim Zahawi, who was kicked out alongside Jeremy Hunt after the first round, was joined by his wife Lana, who shone in a £1,300 Gucci velvet shirt with matching trousers
Ms Zahawi, 56, is a director of Zahawi & Zahawi Ltd, a family property empire said to be worth £100million. She also wore a £2,767 NeverNoT yellow gold ring and a £395 crystal ring by Bea Bongiasca
The couple were joined by Mr Lewis and his wife Justine Rappolt (pictured). Both men wore suits and unbuttoned shirts, while Ms Rappolt opted for a £245 pale blue Reiss jumpsuit
Mr Zahawi was kicked out of the leadership contest yesterday afternoon after failing to reach the minimum threshold of 30 votes.
The YouGov founder, who has since said he would not publicly endorse any candidate, has endured a difficult campaign marred by claims that he is being investigated by HMRC over his tax affairs.
Mr Zahawi called the allegations “slander” and vowed to release his tax returns annually if he ever becomes prime minister.
His frustration was reflected in his campaign manager, Mr Lewis, who expressed hope that the “remaining phases of the leadership contest” would be “carried out in a constructive spirit”.
Ms Patel had considered running for leadership but in the end chose not to put her name forward.
In a statement released on Tuesday, she said: “I am grateful for the encouragement and support that colleagues and party members have offered me over the last few days when they proposed that I enter the Conservative Party leadership contest. I will not propose my name for the Members’ vote.
“As Home Secretary I have always put our country’s safety and national interest first and my focus is to keep working to get more police on our streets, to support our amazing security services to protect our country and… to control our borders. ‘
There was more Tory blood on the carpet today as Suella Braverman became the youngest hopeful to be eliminated from the lead race – with Rishi Sunak at the head of the vote but Penny Mordaunt on the high.
Priti Patel was spotted drinking at the five-star Connaught Hotel in Mayfair last night, which she left around midnight
The home secretary – who announced she would not be running for PM on Tuesday – beamed as she pulled into a government car in a £210 Boden midi dress
Ms Patel had considered running for leadership but in the end chose not to put her name forward
Mr Sunak received 101 votes in the second round of the contest and Ms Mordaunt 83 – 16 on her previous tally – after another hectic day in Westminster which saw Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urging the party’s right wing to unite behind her.
Ms Truss was well behind at 64, up 14, while Kemi Badenoch received 49. Tom Tugendhat, who portrays himself as the champion of the moderates, lost support by 32 votes. Despite insisting he has no intention of retiring, he will be the favorite to be eliminated in the next round on Monday.
Ms Mordaunt now looks in a strong position to reach the last two who will go to a Conservative members run-off. And she was set as the bookmakers’ favorite after a bombastic poll showed she would win a neck-and-neck race against one of her rivals.
The focus will now shift to a series of TV debates scheduled over the weekend, where the candidates will directly cross swords for the first time.
Mr Zahawi was kicked out of the leadership contest yesterday afternoon after failing to reach the minimum threshold of 30 votes
Mrs. left the Oswalds yesterday. Like her husband, who is now Chancellor of the Exchequer, she is a multi-millionaire
