James Cleverly has become the first candidate to declare in the Conservative leadership contest. Announcing the news tonight in an op-ed for the Telegraph, the shadow home secretary made the pitch that he ‘can unite the Conservatives and overturn Starmer’s loveless landslide’.
He says:
We need to rediscover confidence that our core values are shared by the British public and present an offer of unity, security, and prosperity.
We must ditch the self indulgent infighting and be ready to deliver when the next chance comes. This will take dedication, discipline and focus.
More announcements are expected in the coming days after the 1922 committee agreed the rules and timetable for the contest. On Wednesday, contenders can qualify for the race if they secure the backing of ten MPs (one can be themselves). It means there could be several contenders in the first round – spending the summer garnering support ahead of knock-out rounds in September.
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