James Cleverly becomes first to launch Tory leadership bid

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak says a 'smooth and orderly transition' is in the national interest

Britain's former home secretary James Cleverly is seeking the top Tory job. Getty Images

Former home secretary James Cleverly has declared his candidacy in the race to replace Rishi Sunak, becoming the first politician to enter the Tory leadership contest.

Making his opening pitch on Tuesday, the shadow home secretary said he could “unite the Conservative Party and overturn [Prime Minister Keir] Starmer’s loveless landslide”.

Nominations in the contest open on Wednesday and there could be a crowded field, with Mr Cleverly acknowledging he is not the only hopeful giving it “serious thought”.

In a post on social media, he said he was running to “restore the confidence of the British people in us as a party” and “re-establish our reputation” as a party that “helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams and their aspirations”.

“Over the next Parliament, we must not descend into the infighting, navel-gazing and the internecine manoeuvrings at Westminster that plagued us in government," he said, writing in the Daily Telegraph.

“In opposition we must be unified and disciplined, resolute in the job of holding the Labour Party to account on their promises.”

Jostling is under way to replace Mr Sunak as the Tories try to rebuild in opposition after the General Election mauling.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman is widely expected to launch a bid to lead the party from the right and has warned the Tories must not become “a collection of fanatical, irrelevant, centrist cranks”.

Earlier on Tuesday, she used a slot guest-hosting a radio programme to say “we had quite a centrist Conservative agenda” and that “identity politics got out of control” under Mr Sunak.

“We need to be a party that’s firm and credible on immigration,” Ms Braverman told LBC listeners.

“We need to give some hope to the British people on taxation, robust on security and defence, and a real champion for common-sense British values.

"None of this divisive identity politics and woke nonsense. It really frustrates me that that has happened on our watch.”

Ms Braverman dodged a caller’s question on whether she would throw her hat in the ring.

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Other potential leadership contenders include shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch, former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, former home secretary Dame Priti Patel, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

Under plans drawn up by the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs and the party board, the Tories will elect their new leader on November 2.

Nominations will open on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on July 29.

The parliamentary party will then narrow the field down to four, who will make their case at the Conservative Party Conference, which runs from September 29 to October 2.

The final two, picked by the parliamentary party, will then be voted on by Conservative Party members in an online ballot that will close on October 31.

The result will be announced on November 2.

Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said he was determined that the leadership debate be “respectful and thorough”, and warned against the contest descending into “personal attacks”.

Mr Sunak, who will remain acting leader until a successor is appointed, has given his backing to the plans and said a “smooth and orderly transition” is in the “national interest”.