Essex MP James Cleverly joins Conservative leadership race

The Braintree MP James Cleverly is to stand in the Conservative Party leadership race to be the next Prime Minister. Credit: ITV News Anglia

James Cleverly, the MP for Braintree in Essex, has joined the contest to be Prime Minister and the next leader of the Conservative Party.

The former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party and under secretary of state in the Department for Exiting the European Union, said the Tories needed a leader "who truly believes in the opportunity Brexit presents".

He told the Braintree and Witham Times: "Once Brexit is delivered, we thenneed to think about how we can make the Conservatives look new and sound different. From the politics we have seen in the last two years, it is clear it needs a complete refresh.

"We need a change and I believe I am the right person to deliver thatchange."

"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.

A website campaign has been launched promoting James Cleverly has a candidate in the Conservative leadership election.

Theresa May has announced she will resign as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday 7 June 2019 with a leadership election starting on Monday 10 June.

Mrs May will remain as a Prime Minister until the contest is completed in the summer.

Conservative MPs get to vote on the initial full list of candidates but whittle them down to a final two. Then the wider Conservative Party membership decides the final winner.

In a letter to constituents printed on the paper's website, he said: "Wecannot bring the country back together unless the party of government is united, and the party cannot unite if it is led from its fringes.rejected by our parliament."

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