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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tory leadership contest: James Cleverly withdraws from race | Tory leadership contest: James Cleverly withdraws from race |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Brexit Minister James Cleverly has withdrawn from the Conservative Party's leadership race, almost a week after declaring his intention to stand. | Brexit Minister James Cleverly has withdrawn from the Conservative Party's leadership race, almost a week after declaring his intention to stand. |
| The Tory MP said it had "become clear" it was "highly unlikely" he would progress to the final two candidates that will appear on the ballot paper. | The Tory MP said it had "become clear" it was "highly unlikely" he would progress to the final two candidates that will appear on the ballot paper. |
| "Unfortunately and with a heavy heart I've decided to withdraw from the race," he told the BBC. | "Unfortunately and with a heavy heart I've decided to withdraw from the race," he told the BBC. |
| This leaves 12 Tory MPs competing for the top job. | This leaves 12 Tory MPs competing for the top job. |
| The executive of the party's backbench 1922 Committee will meet later to decide the rules and timings for the leadership election. | The executive of the party's backbench 1922 Committee will meet later to decide the rules and timings for the leadership election. |
| Theresa May stands down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday - she will remain PM until a successor is named at the end of July. | Theresa May stands down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday - she will remain PM until a successor is named at the end of July. |
| In a statement, Mr Cleverly said he had wanted to deliver Brexit and then move the conversation on to other important issues. | In a statement, Mr Cleverly said he had wanted to deliver Brexit and then move the conversation on to other important issues. |
| "I had hoped that the Conservative parliamentary party would support me to be the face and voice of that conversation," he said. | "I had hoped that the Conservative parliamentary party would support me to be the face and voice of that conversation," he said. |
| "To do this I asked them to make a leap of faith, skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP. | "To do this I asked them to make a leap of faith, skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP. |
| "It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party's grassroots, MPs weren't comfortable with such a move and it has become clear that it is highly unlikely that I would progress to the final two candidates." | "It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party's grassroots, MPs weren't comfortable with such a move and it has become clear that it is highly unlikely that I would progress to the final two candidates." |
| Who will replace Theresa May? | Who will replace Theresa May? |
| The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister. | The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister. |
| The deadline to put names forward is the week commencing 10 June and all candidates must have at least two MPs supporting them to take part. | The deadline to put names forward is the week commencing 10 June and all candidates must have at least two MPs supporting them to take part. |
| After nominations close, all 313 Conservative MPs will vote for their preferred candidate in a series of polls that will whittle down the contenders one by one until only two are left. | After nominations close, all 313 Conservative MPs will vote for their preferred candidate in a series of polls that will whittle down the contenders one by one until only two are left. |
| The wider Tory membership of 124,000 will then vote the two candidates. | The wider Tory membership of 124,000 will then vote the two candidates. |
| Mr Cleverly's withdrawal comes following criticism of the high number of people who are running and there have been calls to change the rules - such as increasing the initial number of nominations needed to take part. | Mr Cleverly's withdrawal comes following criticism of the high number of people who are running and there have been calls to change the rules - such as increasing the initial number of nominations needed to take part. |
| Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said on Monday that some candidates should consider pulling out because the party needs to find a new leader fast. | Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said on Monday that some candidates should consider pulling out because the party needs to find a new leader fast. |