James Cleverly Joins Conservative Leadership Race

James Cleverly has officially announced he is running to become the next leader of the Conservative Party. The Braintree MP, currently serving as the shadow home secretary, shared his announcement through a video on social media.

In his video, Cleverly emphasized the need for the Conservatives to «re-establish our reputation» as a party that supports economic growth and helps citizens achieve their dreams. He stated, «We can only do this as a united party, focused on the needs of the British people.»

Having previously urged his party to expand its outreach, Mr. Cleverly aims to create a «broad church» to win back voters spanning the political spectrum. He is not alone in this race, as other potential candidates are also gearing up for the contest.

In addition to Cleverly, names like Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, and Kemi Badenoch are also rumored to be interested in leading the party. Candidates will need support from 10 fellow Tory MPs by July 29 to stay in the race.

The process will begin with voting that narrows down the candidates when Parliament returns in September. By the time of the Conservative conference in late September, the field will be reduced to four candidates, who will then be voted on by party members.

Bob Blackman, who is overseeing the leadership selection, stated his commitment to ensuring a respectful and thorough debate about the future of the party. He highlighted the importance of engaging in constructive discussions rather than personal attacks.