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Tory leadership: James Cleverly quits race as Fox backs Jeremy Hunt Tory leadership: James Cleverly quits race as Fox backs Jeremy Hunt
(about 16 hours later)
James Cleverly has become the first candidate to withdraw from the Conservative leadership race, citing a lack of support for his campaign, which he said had required “a leap of faith, [to] skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP”.James Cleverly has become the first candidate to withdraw from the Conservative leadership race, citing a lack of support for his campaign, which he said had required “a leap of faith, [to] skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP”.
Cleverly’s decision reduces the field to 12 candidates. The Brexit minister and former Tory vice-chairman would have been unlikely to meet a threshold of 12 endorsements, which the party’s backbench executive could introduce this week to cut the number of candidates.Cleverly’s decision reduces the field to 12 candidates. The Brexit minister and former Tory vice-chairman would have been unlikely to meet a threshold of 12 endorsements, which the party’s backbench executive could introduce this week to cut the number of candidates.
“It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party’s grassroots, MPs weren’t comfortable with such a move [his candidacy] and it has been clear that I would not progress to the final two candidates,” Cleverly said in a statement.“It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party’s grassroots, MPs weren’t comfortable with such a move [his candidacy] and it has been clear that I would not progress to the final two candidates,” Cleverly said in a statement.
The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges.
He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate. Gove has privately reassured colleagues over recent months that he understands the devastating consequences of a no-deal Brexit, not least for his own environment department.
He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’. He has also stressed his background as a reformer, and promised to boost education funding and tackle social care funding – all pitches that could appeal to Stewartites, potentially enabling Gove to overtake Jeremy Hunt. 
On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit.
He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.
The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson.  Hunt’s team called his showing on Wednesday a 'fantastic result'. It was, in the sense that he avoided being overtaken by Gove, and that he picked up an extra eight votes from Tuesday’s showing of 46.
On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election. But there is no doubt that after three rounds of voting Hunt would have hoped to be the obvious challenger to Johnson, whereas he was only narrowly ahead of Gove, with just three votes in it.
Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style.  The foreign secretary’s team are conscious that he risks appearing middle-of-the-road, with his rivals dismissing him as 'continuity May', or worse, Theresa in trousers, or 'Tit' for short.
He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.
Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though. Before his punchy performance in Tuesday’s debate Javid appeared vulnerable, with some allies fearing that he could be overtaken by Stewart, whose off-the-wall campaign style had helped him to remain in contention.
On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal. But Javid scored one of the few clear victories amid the cacophony in the BBC studio, bouncing his four colleagues into promising an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in their party – a promise the winner will now be held to.
He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position. His campaign team professed themselves delighted with the result, and will now turn their attention to trying to win over Stewart’s backers, by stressing Javid’s liberal credentials.
However, one moderate former Tory minister, who had backed Javid in the first round because of personal loyalty, said: “I like him, but I can’t support him because I don’t agree with his politics – he’s a Thatcherite.”
He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.
The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most. Johnson’s progress to Downing Street appeared unstoppable even before last week’s first round of voting among MPs, and most of his colleagues believe it is now all but inevitable that he will be Britain’s next prime minister.
On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time. His well-disciplined campaign team will continue with their strategy of subjecting him to minimal media exposure, though once the field is narrowed down to two, the final pair will appear in more than a dozen head-to-head hustings for Tory members. The team’s main aim is simply to keep heads down and avoid Johnson creating headlines for the wrong reasons.
Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.
Earlier on Tuesday, Liam Fox backed the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to be the next Conservative leader, in a further splintering of cabinet endorsements in five different directions.Earlier on Tuesday, Liam Fox backed the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to be the next Conservative leader, in a further splintering of cabinet endorsements in five different directions.
The international trade secretary is the first cabinet member to support Hunt, who is one of the four frontrunners alongside Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.The international trade secretary is the first cabinet member to support Hunt, who is one of the four frontrunners alongside Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab.
Fox, one of the cabinet’s most dedicated Brexiters, surprised some other leadership camps on Tuesday with his endorsement of Hunt, who has said pursuing no deal would be “political suicide” because it would lead to a general election.Fox, one of the cabinet’s most dedicated Brexiters, surprised some other leadership camps on Tuesday with his endorsement of Hunt, who has said pursuing no deal would be “political suicide” because it would lead to a general election.
Fox said he was backing “my friend” Hunt, having previously mounted a defence of keeping a no-deal departure on the table. “If we can’t get an agreement, we have to be willing to walk away, otherwise we have no real negotiating hand,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.Fox said he was backing “my friend” Hunt, having previously mounted a defence of keeping a no-deal departure on the table. “If we can’t get an agreement, we have to be willing to walk away, otherwise we have no real negotiating hand,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Privilege to work with @LiamFox in Cabinet for many of the last nine years and very honoured by his support. He is an outstanding trade secretary. Looking forward to working with him to get a better Brexit deal and make the most of new trading opportunities across the globe. pic.twitter.com/GGSicmj1wYPrivilege to work with @LiamFox in Cabinet for many of the last nine years and very honoured by his support. He is an outstanding trade secretary. Looking forward to working with him to get a better Brexit deal and make the most of new trading opportunities across the globe. pic.twitter.com/GGSicmj1wY
However, Fox said he was aware “the prospect of a no deal might well be used by those who seek to break up the UK, to use that as a weapon in that particular battle, both I think in Northern Ireland and potentially in Scotland”.However, Fox said he was aware “the prospect of a no deal might well be used by those who seek to break up the UK, to use that as a weapon in that particular battle, both I think in Northern Ireland and potentially in Scotland”.
Over the weekend, Johnson won the coveted endorsement of Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, who had been touted to run herself, as well as that of the sacked former defence secretary Gavin Williamson.Over the weekend, Johnson won the coveted endorsement of Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, who had been touted to run herself, as well as that of the sacked former defence secretary Gavin Williamson.
But on Tuesday, the security minister, Ben Wallace, declined to say he was supporting Johnson, whom he backed in 2016 and then jokingly threatened to inflict a Game of Thrones-style torture on Gove when he threw his hat in the ring and scuppered Johnson’s chances.But on Tuesday, the security minister, Ben Wallace, declined to say he was supporting Johnson, whom he backed in 2016 and then jokingly threatened to inflict a Game of Thrones-style torture on Gove when he threw his hat in the ring and scuppered Johnson’s chances.
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Wallace told Today. “What we do need to do is make sure this race is about getting the right person to lead the country, but I’m not going to bang on about it.”“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Wallace told Today. “What we do need to do is make sure this race is about getting the right person to lead the country, but I’m not going to bang on about it.”
A Conservative leadership contest takes two stages. First, MPs vote for their choice from the nominated candidates. In progressive rounds of voting, candidates are eliminated until there are only two challengers remaining. The second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose one of the two candidates.A Conservative leadership contest takes two stages. First, MPs vote for their choice from the nominated candidates. In progressive rounds of voting, candidates are eliminated until there are only two challengers remaining. The second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose one of the two candidates.
Theresa May's formal resignation as leader on 7 June triggered the contest and the Conservative party set out the following timetable:Theresa May's formal resignation as leader on 7 June triggered the contest and the Conservative party set out the following timetable:
Nominations closed on 10 June. The first round of voting was held on Thursday 13 June. Subsequent rounds have been pencilled in for the 18th, 19th and 20th.Nominations closed on 10 June. The first round of voting was held on Thursday 13 June. Subsequent rounds have been pencilled in for the 18th, 19th and 20th.
Conservative party HQ says the postal vote element, when the 140,000 or so party members will pick the country's new prime minister, will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.Conservative party HQ says the postal vote element, when the 140,000 or so party members will pick the country's new prime minister, will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.
Mel Stride, the new leader of the House of Commons, is a backer of Gove, while Sajid Javid, the home secretary, won the support of the culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, on Tuesday.Mel Stride, the new leader of the House of Commons, is a backer of Gove, while Sajid Javid, the home secretary, won the support of the culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, on Tuesday.
David Gauke, the justice secretary, who has repeatedly cautioned against a no-deal Brexit, has backed the outsider candidate Rory Stewart, formerly a junior minister in his department.David Gauke, the justice secretary, who has repeatedly cautioned against a no-deal Brexit, has backed the outsider candidate Rory Stewart, formerly a junior minister in his department.
Stewart, who has ruled out pursuing a no-deal Brexit, has attracted mass media attention for his campaign, which has been based on social media videos of him meeting the public at short-notice events around the country.Stewart, who has ruled out pursuing a no-deal Brexit, has attracted mass media attention for his campaign, which has been based on social media videos of him meeting the public at short-notice events around the country.
Several high-profile cabinet names are yet to declare who they will back, including the chancellor, Philip Hammond, and the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, who has been one of the most vocal cabinet voices against leaving the EU without an agreement.Several high-profile cabinet names are yet to declare who they will back, including the chancellor, Philip Hammond, and the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, who has been one of the most vocal cabinet voices against leaving the EU without an agreement.
Rudd’s 60-strong group of One Nation Conservative MPs will hold its first of three hustings on Tuesday night for Tory candidates.Rudd’s 60-strong group of One Nation Conservative MPs will hold its first of three hustings on Tuesday night for Tory candidates.
There are 12 declared candidates after Cleverly’s departure, but the list could grow. Supporters of the defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, say she will make a decision about running after an evening conference call with grassroots activists.There are 12 declared candidates after Cleverly’s departure, but the list could grow. Supporters of the defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, say she will make a decision about running after an evening conference call with grassroots activists.
The 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, which will run the contest, is to hold an executive meeting on Tuesday as calls grow for changes to the rules to reduce the size of the field. Rules must then be agreed by the party board on Wednesday and the first round of voting is expected to take place the following Thursday.The 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, which will run the contest, is to hold an executive meeting on Tuesday as calls grow for changes to the rules to reduce the size of the field. Rules must then be agreed by the party board on Wednesday and the first round of voting is expected to take place the following Thursday.
Several members of the committee favour new rules under which each candidate would need a proposer, a seconder and 10 supporters to make the ballot of MPs – a total of 12 endorsements.Several members of the committee favour new rules under which each candidate would need a proposer, a seconder and 10 supporters to make the ballot of MPs – a total of 12 endorsements.
This would eliminate Stewart, Mark Harper, Esther McVey, Andrea Leadsom, Kit Malthouse and Sam Gyimah.This would eliminate Stewart, Mark Harper, Esther McVey, Andrea Leadsom, Kit Malthouse and Sam Gyimah.
Supporters of Johnson increasingly believe the race is likely to head for a “psychodrama” of a run-off between him and Gove. However, leadership teams behind Hunt, Raab, Javid and Hancock all believe they could come through the middle, with about 150 Conservative MPs still to declare who they are backing.Supporters of Johnson increasingly believe the race is likely to head for a “psychodrama” of a run-off between him and Gove. However, leadership teams behind Hunt, Raab, Javid and Hancock all believe they could come through the middle, with about 150 Conservative MPs still to declare who they are backing.
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Liam FoxLiam Fox
Jeremy HuntJeremy Hunt
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