The contest for the Conservative Party leadership led to the borough last weekend with a hustings at a hotel in Bromley Cross.

James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat attended The Last Drop Hotel on Hospital Road.

The contest for the Conservative Party leadership was a six-person contest but on September 4, ahead of the hustings, Priti Patel lost in the first round of voting by Tory MPs. On September 10, after the hustings, Mr Stride lost in the second round of voting by Tory MPs.

Mr Cleverly, Ms Badenoch, Mr Jenrick and Mr Tugendhat are to address the Conservative Party Conference at the end of this month before additional rounds of voting and an announcement on the replacement for former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on November 2.

Former Bolton MP Chris Green, who lost Bolton West after almost a decade at the General Election, is behind Mr Tugendhat.

(Image: Ryan Jenkinson / Parsons Media)

Mr Green said: "There is only one person for the job. 

"The next leader of our party must be Tom Tugendhat."

Mr Tugendhat, an ex-Territorial Army officer, said: "It was a privilege to meet members in Bolton. These next few months are critical for the Conservative Party. Our party and our nation need leadership.

"[As a Territorial Army officer] I promised to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to serve her country faithfully and as the leader of the Conservative Party this will not change. I will lead with conservative principles creating a party with purpose that will take the fight to Labour so that we will win in five years’ time. I look forward to working with everyone across our conservative family to achieve this."

(Image: Ryan Jenkinson / Parsons Media)

Here is the result of the first round of voting:

Robert Jenrick - 28 votes
Kemi Badenoch - 22 votes
James Cleverly - 21 votes
Tom Tugendhat - 17 votes
Mel Stride - 16 votes
Priti Patel - 14 votes

Here is the result of the second round of voting:

Robert Jenrick - 33 votes
Kemi Badenoch - 28 votes
James Cleverly - 21 votes
Tom Tugendhat - 21 votes
Mel Stride - 16 votes

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.