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The first ever in-party election for the leadership was held on June 1, 3011 to elect the new Leader of the Conservative Party following the resignation of Prime Minister Jaresh Inyo. The election was the unopposed victory of Deputy Prime Minister Edward Jellico as Leader and as the 4th Prime Minister of Wiltshire - taking office later the same day.
The election was triggered, formally, by Inyo's announcement on May 29. The Conservative National Executive Committee announced that the Conservative Members of the Assembly would decide the two candidates to put to the membership in an election. However, when nominations closed on June 1, there were no other candidates besides popular Deputy Prime Minister, Edward Jellico. He was automatically elected Leader and became Prime Minister later that day - forming the First Jellico Ministry.
Candidates
There was only one confirmed candidate for the leadership, Deputy Prime Minister Edward Jellico. However, Jaresh Inyo's resignation was not out of the blue. Inyo's health had been deteriorating and speculation had mounted over his potential successor.
The following candidates received speculation in the last month prior to the announcement and did not confirm they would not stand for the leadership until the date of nominations;
- Martin Banks (Chancellor of the Exchequer; Minister for Finance)
- Karen Finch (Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Former Chairwoman of the National Party)
- Steve Walmack (Minister for Education; Jaresh Inyo's Chief of Staff)
- Quinton Francis (Minister for Trade; Former Minister for Diplomacy; Former Minister of Education)
None of these candidates would stand for the leadership, with 3 out of 4 of them (Banks, Walmack and Francis) endorsing Jellico for the Leadership on nomination day.
Nominations and result
| Candidate | Role(s) | Nominations | Share | Nominated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Jellico | Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence |
23 | 88.5% | Yes |