UK Conservatives to announce new leader on November 2

Britain’s Conservative party on Monday said it would announce its next leader on November 2, after this month’s election drubbing forced ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak to announce his resignation. The British electorate ended 14 years of Conservative rule by reducing the party to a rump of 121 MPs, its worst ever result, as the centre-left Labour opposition swept to a 174-seat majority. The leadership contest is seen as crucial as questions swirl over the Tories’ future direction.