James Cleverly joins Conservative leadership race

The Braintree politician has joined 10 other Conservative MPs on the shortlist of candidates hoping to succeed Theresa May, who announced her departure from Number 10 on Friday.

Mr Cleverly, who stepped down as deputy chairman of the Conservatives when he was appointed junior minister for the Brexit department last month, has put his name forward because he believes he can deliver “much-needed change’”within his party.

Speaking to the Times on Tuesday, he said: “I think two things need to happen if there is going to be real change.

“Firstly, we need to deliver Brexit. I campaigned to leave from the very start and always believed we are better off outside the EU. We need a leader of the Conservative Party who truly believes in the opportunity Brexit presents.

“Once Brexit is delivered, we then need 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 that change.”

Mr Cleverly admitted succeeding Mrs May would be a “difficult challenge” in light of the European election results, which saw the Conservatives finish in fifth place.

With vast numbers of Tory supporters turning to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, Mr Cleverly insists he is prepared to make “tough” decisions in a bid to galvanise support for his party.

He has also declared he will prioritise leaving the EU with an agreement in place, distancing himself from the hard Brexit stance of leaving without a deal.

He said: “I stood loyally by Mrs May and I make no apologies for that.

“But it’s clear things need to be done differently because Parliament has rejected her deal.

“The preferable option is to leave with a deal. I’ve been working in my role as junior minister for the Brexit department to prepare for a no deal, even though it is not the desirable option.

"I believe I can find a way to get something through by working with my Conservative colleagues and politicians from other parties.”

Mr Cleverly added: "Ever since I started in politics I have always been asked if I want to be the prime minister.

“I think it’s a fantastic job and wonderful opportunity to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

"I recognise it’s a difficult job full of tough decisions, but I’m used to making those and have done before in my professional life and as a politician."

Other candidates to be Prime Minister include Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

After unveiling his bid to become the new Conservative leader, Mr Cleverly issued a letter to his constituents via the Braintree and Witham Times where he thanked residents for their support.

The MP also confirmed he would not rule out leaving the EU without a deal as failing to deliver Brexit was not an "acceptable option".

His letter states: "It would be best for the UK to leave the EU with some form of deal, and the EU must now recognise the need for flexibility as the current deal has been rejected by our parliament. "It is my job in Government is to oversee preparations for a no-deal Brexit. That this is not my preferred choice, but if it must happen, I am ready to lead through what may be difficult and un-charted waters. I have never ducked tough political decisions.

"Remaining is not an acceptable option. A second referendum is shorthand for Remain, put forward by people who want a way to ignore the instruction of millions of voters. Democracy is too valuable to disregard."

Click here to read James Cleverly's letter to constituents in full