James Cleverly: Brexit supporter becomes eleventh MP to enter Tory leadership race

Braintree MP says party needs a leader who ‘truly believes in the opportunity Brexit presents’

James Cleverly has become the eleventh Conservative MP to enter the party’s crowded leadership contest.

The Braintree MP, a junior Brexit minister who previously served as deputy chairman of the party, said the Tories needed a leader who “truly believes in the opportunity Brexit presents”.

In a letter to his constituents in the Braintree and Witham Times, Mr Cleverly said: “Both the country, and my party, are beset with division.

“We cannot bring the country back together unless the party of government is united, and the party cannot unite if it is led from its fringes.

“I believe the case for Brexit is still valid, and I have not wavered in that belief.”

Mr Cleverly added that taking Britain out of the European without a withdrawal deal in place was “not his preferred choice”.

The winner of the leadership contest, who will also succeed Theresa May as prime minister, is expected to be announced by the end of July.

Among those vying to be the next Tory leader include top cabinet ministers such as home secretary Sajid Javid, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and environment secretary Michael Gove.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom and Rory Stewart have also declared their intention to stand.

Speculation continues to surround the prospect of other contenders emerging, including defence secretary Penny Mordaunt and former 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady.

Ms May last week announced she would stand down after repeatedly failing to win support in the Commons for her deal to take the UK out of the European Union.

Additional reporting by agencies