Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has confirmed he is running to become the next Conservative Party leader.
The Braintree MP, who is currently shadow home secretary, posted a video on social media announcing his candidacy on Tuesday evening.
He is the first member of the Conservatives to announce they are in the running to become leader, after the party announced it would hold a three-month leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak by November.
Mr Sunak has said he will remain as acting leader until a successor is elected.
In the video launching his campaign, Mr Cleverly said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation” as a party who “helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams and their aspirations”.
“We can only do this as a united party, focused on the needs of the British people,” he added.
Mr Cleverly had previously urged his party not to “narrow our offer” as it seeks to rebuild after its crushing election defeat on 4 July.
He has said the party should aim to be a “broad church” to win back voters from the left and right.
The shadow home secretary was widely expected to join the race to become Tory leader. He served as foreign and home secretary under previous Conservative governments.
Other potential candidates include former minister Mel Stride, who said he was “considering” going for the role, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat and shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch.
Leadership candidates need support from 10 fellow Tory MPs by 29 July to stay in the contest. By this point, up to 11 MPs could be in the running.
MPs will then begin narrowing down the field through a series of ballots when parliament returns in early September, reducing the field to four by the Tory conference at the end of that month.
Party members will vote for a leader from that shortlist in a ballot that will close on 31 October.
Bob Blackman, who as chairman of the backbenchers’ 1922 Committee will oversee the selection of the new leader, said he was “determined that our party will have a respectful and thorough leadership debate”.
He added: “While there are significant debates to be had about our party’s future, we must remember that the country – and our members – want to see us engaged in proper debate, not personal attacks.”
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