James Cleverly Launches Tory Leadership Campaign with Call to End Infighting and Rebuild Voter Trust

James Cleally declares 'we need to stop the self-centered squabbling' as he launches his Conservative leadership campaign. The shadow home secretary also mentioned that "we need to reestablish a connection… with the electorate" following a loss of their confidence in the previous national election.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 9:

James Cleverly has emerged as the first Conservative MP to declare his candidacy for the party's leadership.

The shadow home secretary, a veteran of multiple high-ranking governmental positions, announced his decision through a video posted on social platforms.

In his message, which featured a visit to his childhood residence in southeast London, Mr. Cleverly stated that the Conservatives must renew their reputation as the party that, when in power, fosters economic growth and aids individuals in reaching their objectives, dreams, and ambitions.

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The ex-chairman of the Conservative Party, aged 54, stated that during his tenure as foreign secretary, he confronted global adversaries and supported allies.

He stated: "During my tenure as home secretary, I understood the significance of managing net migration effectively and implemented measures that successfully reduced those numbers."

In an article for the Telegraph, Mr. Cleverly expressed: "It's imperative to regain belief in the alignment of our fundamental values with those of the British populace, and to propose a vision of unity, security, and prosperity."

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"It's crucial that we put an end to the counterproductive internal disputes and prepare ourselves to capitalize on upcoming opportunities. This will require commitment, control, and concentration."

He emphasized the need to "reestablish a connection with the electorate" following a loss of their confidence in the previous national vote.

The new leader of the Conservative Party, succeeding Rishi Sunak, will be revealed on November 2.

The party announced that the ex-prime minister, responsible for leading the Conservatives to an unprecedented loss on July 4th, will continue as the interim leader until then.

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Candidates can begin submitting their nominations to replace Mr. Sunak starting Wednesday at 7 PM, with the submission period ending Monday at 2:30 PM.

After discussions involving the board of the Conservative Party and the 1922 committee, which consists of backbench MPs, it was resolved that candidates must secure the support of at least 10 MPs—including a proposer, a seconder, and eight additional nominators—to move forward to the voting stage.

Conservative MPs will subsequently reduce the field to four contenders, each of whom will present their arguments to the party's members during the Conservative conference scheduled for this fall.

The group of four contenders will be narrowed down to the final pair, from which party members will select the victor.

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Several Conservative Members of Parliament have expressed interest in entering the leadership race, among them is the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stridge.

He is expected to face competition from fellow party members such as shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch and shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat.

Several other prominent figures are anticipated to enter the race, among them former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, as well as ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

Mr. Tugendhat enjoys considerable respect within the One Nation faction of centrist Conservative MPs, and Mr. Cleverly is likewise viewed by moderate Conservative circles as a potential unifying figure for the party.

Ms. Patel, Ms. Braverman, and Mr. Jenrick are each vying for the support of the party's right-wing members.

Jeremy Hunt, the opposition's finance spokesperson, has decided not to enter the race for party leadership, even though he successfully defended his seat in Godalming and Ash against the Liberal Democrats in the recent election.

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