James Cleverly is emerging as another potential rival to front-runner Kemi Badenoch for the Conservative Party leadership following its collapse in the general election.
The shadow Home Secretary is being regarded by colleagues as a “unity candidate” in the forthcoming leadership race, bringing with him a wealth of government experience.
While the former cabinet minister has yet to come to a conclusion on whether to stand for leader, and is said to be “carefully considering” his next move, it is widely expected that he will throw his hat in the ring if there is enough support from MPs.
Should he officially declare, he is likely to come up against the current favourite for the leadership, Badenoch, as well as Robert Jenrick and shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, who are understood to be well advanced in their plans to launch a bid.
Priti Patel and shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins are also believed to be considering their options, while Suella Braverman’s leadership ambitions appear to have evaporated in recent days.
Mr Cleverly’s backers believe that due to his time running two great offices of state, including both the Foreign Office and the Home Office, he has an edge on his rival candidates for the top job.
In particular, it was highlighted that one of his first achievements in the Home Office was to bring down the level of immigration coming into the UK, while his role as Tory party chair in 2019 when the Conservatives secured an 80-seat majority is also being viewed as a significant feather in his cap.
Above all, however, it was his personableness and his credentials as a communicator that are being viewed as his greatest asset as a potential leadership contender.
It stands in contrast to Ms Badenoch, who is viewed by some in the party as being overly combative, having launched a tirade against the current party leader Rishi Sunak during the Shadow Cabinet’s first meeting this week.
One Tory source told i that the shadow Housing Secretary had “shot herself in the foot” with her Shadow Cabinet comments and had alienated some wavering supporters as a result.
There is widespread dismay among senior party figures over the level of backbiting taking place between MPs in the wake of the party’s historic defeat, with MPs descending into civil war over which faction was to blame for whitewash.
One senior Tory source told i: “There is a lot of concern about the amount of briefing and infighting going on.”
Each of the rival camps are understood to be paying close attention to recent polling by YouGov as part of the Queen Mary University of London and Sussex University’s Party Members Project, which showed Ms Badenoch was the clear favourite among Tory members, with 31 per cent backing her.
It stands at twice that of her nearest rivals Ms Braverman and Mr Tugendhat, who attracted 16 per cent and 15 per cent of the grassroots’ backing respectively and well ahead of Mr Cleverly, who was backed by 10 per cent of members.
Former home secretary Dame Priti attracted just 6 per cent of support, while Mr Jenrick only received 7 per cent and Ms Atkins just 2 per cent of the members’ backing.
It comes as reports emerged of MPs calling for shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride to stand as leader or potentially as an interim candidate to provide the party with some stability over the next few weeks and months.