Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick join Tory leadership race as James Cleverly leads with MP endorsements - live
Three Tories have thrown their hats in the ring as the three-month leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak begins
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Robert Jenrick is the third Tory MP to announce his bid to become the next leader of the Conservative party after Tom Tugendhat submitted his papers.
The two contenders will challenge James Cleverly and other MPs hoping to replace the outgoing Rishi Sunak after the election defeat.
Mr Tugendhat, seen as a candidate from the moderate wing of the party, indicated he would be prepared to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if needed to regain control of UK borders.
Shadow home secretary Mr Cleverly is currently leading the leadership race with three endorsements from Tory MPs, including Gagan Mohindra, Peter Fortune and Simon Hoare.
Kemi Badenoch could be throwing her hat in the ring soon after her leadership website was spotted under maintenance.
Other former cabinet ministers expected to announce their bids include Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Suella Braverman.
The Conservative Party will appoint a new leader on 2 November and contenders have until Monday to win the support of the 10 MPs they need to make it onto the ballot paper.
Who will be the next Tory leader? All the front runners ranked from Priti Patel to Suella Braverman
Who will be the next Tory leader? The Tory frontrunners from Patel to Braverman
After a catastrophic defeat the party has kicked off its own election - to pick Rishi Sunak’s successor
Tory MP backs Priti Patel for leader
Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwood, Alec Shelbrooke, told GB News he will be nominating Priti Patel.
“She was here rebuilding the party in 1997 after that defeat. She has had senior roles and she is respected within wings in the party.
“We need to get away from different gangs fighting each other.
“The enemy is not within the Conservative Party, the enemy is the 174 Labour majority sitting opposite us.”
Braverman told Tories to reject ‘woke nonsense’ ahead of leadership race
Braverman tells Tories to reject ‘woke nonsense’ ahead of leadership race
The former home secretary is widely expected to launch a bid in the contest to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader.
Who is Kemi Badenoch? The frontrunner for Tory leader
Born in Wimbledon, Kemi Badenoch lived in the US and Nigeria as a child before returning to the UK aged 16.
After graduating from the University of Sussex with a master's degree in computer systems engineering, she worked for companies including the Royal Bank of Scotland, private bank Coutts, and the Spectator magazine.
She joined the Conservative Party in 2005, aged 25.
In the 2017 election, she stood in the safe Conservative seat of Saffron Walden in Essex and was elected to Parliament.
Ms Badenoch was a supporter of Brexit. In her maiden Parliament speech, she described the referendum as “the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom”.
She most recently served as Business and Trade Secretary as well as the minister for women and equalities.
In full: Tom Tugendhat goes after human rights as he enters Tory leadership race
Tom Tugendhat has become the second senior Tory to announce a leadership bid, indicating he would be prepared to quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to protect the UK’s borders.
The shadow security minister, who joined James Cleverly in publicly declaring his leadership ambitions, insisted he could lead the Conservatives to victory at the next general election.
In his first round of interviews since entering the contest, Mr Tugendhat echoed Rishi Sunak’s stance on the ECHR, attempting to toe the line between appealing to right-wingers and not spooking more moderate Conservatives.
He said he would be willing to quit the convention if he believed it no longer “served the interests of the British people”.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story:
Tom Tugendhat goes after human rights as he enters Tory leadership race
Shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat claims he could win the next general election for the Conservatives
Tugendhat surprised by Liz Truss’s ‘recklessness'
Tom Tugendhat said he had been surprised by Liz Truss’s recklessness as he was quizzed about previously backing her.
“I stood against every other leadership contender at the last time and then I was left with the choice of two,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
He added: “Liz demonstrated a recklessness that surprised all of us.” The contender for the Conservative leadership dodged questions of whether backing Ms Truss and her economic plan showed a lack of judgment on his part.
He said: “What we need to be doing is focusing on the challenges that are facing us in the future. Over the last three, four years - you’re absolutely right. We have failed to deliver. That’s exactly why I’m standing because I think we need to unite this country. We need to rebuild that trust, and we need to deliver.”
Mel Stride attacks Labour’s ‘fantasy narrative’ on Tory legacy
The former minister has hit out at Labour after the party accused the Tories of leaving a challenging government behind.
Mr Stride said: “More evidence the economy is heading in a positive direction, while Labour continue to talk it down to fit their own fantasy narrative.
“They have inherited the fastest growing economy in the G7, we can’t let them get away with claiming otherwise.”
The Tory MP is expected to announce his leadership bid today as three candidates threw their hats in the ring.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick wins two backers
The former immigration secretary has now received the backing of two Tory MPs.
MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham Caroline Johnson has announced she is supporting his leadership bid.
In a tweet, she said: “Pleased to nominate Rob Jenrick to lead the Conservative Party. Rob has sound Conservative principles and the temperament and attributes to be a great leader.”
It comes as Tory MP Danny Kruger, who is Mr Jenrick’s campaign manager, claimed the leader hopeful can “bring our party together”.
Tory MP Gagan Mohindra backs James Cleverly for leader
MP for South West Hertfordshire Gagan Mohindra has announced he is backing James Cleverly.
He Tweeted: “Only James can unite our party, hold the government to account, and win the next General Election. That’s why I’m backing James Cleverly for Leader.”
Mr Mohindra is the third MP to support the shadow home secretary’s bid alongside Peter Fortune and Simon Hoare.
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