James Cleverly has become the first Tory MP to announce he will be running to be the party’s next leader.
The shadow home secretary, who has held a number of senior roles in government, revealed his decision in a video on social media.
In the post, which saw him return to his childhood home in southeast London, Mr Cleverly said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation as the party who, in government, helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams, and their aspirations”.
Politics latest: Starmer suspends Labour MPs who rebelled
The 54-year-old former Tory chairman said that when he was the foreign secretary he “stood up to our enemies around the world and I helped defend our friends”.
He added: “When I was home secretary I recognised how important it was to get net migration under control and I took action which has seen those net migration figures come down.”
Writing for the Telegraph, Mr Cleverly said: “We need to rediscover confidence that our core values are shared by the British public and present an offer of unity, security, and prosperity.
“We must ditch the self-indulgent infighting and be ready to deliver when the next chance comes. This will take dedication, discipline and focus.”
He also said “we must reconnect… with voters” after “losing their trust” at the last general election.
Rishi Sunak‘s replacement as Conservative leader will be announced on 2 November.
The party said the former prime minister, who led the Conservatives to their worst-ever defeat on 4 July, will remain acting leader until that date.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Laughter as Starmer calls Sunak ‘prime minister’
Nominations to succeed Mr Sunak will open on Wednesday at 7pm and will close at 2.30pm on Monday.
Following meetings between the Conservative Party board and the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, it has been decided that candidates will need the backing of at least 10 MPs – a proposer, a seconder and eight nominations to proceed to the ballot.
Tory MPs will then narrow down to four candidates, who will make their case to party members at the Conservative conference this autumn.
The four candidates will then be whittled down to the final two candidates, with the winner chosen by party members.
Read more:
Who could replace Sunak as Conservative leader?
Scrapped Rwanda scheme has already cost £700m
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
A number of Conservative MPs have also been making noises about standing in the leadership election, including former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride.
He is likely to go up against colleagues including shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch and shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat.
Others who are expected to throw their hat in the ring include former home secretaries Suella Braverman, her predecessor Priti Patel and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
Mr Tugendhat is highly regarded among the One Nation group of moderate Tory MPs, while Mr Cleverly is also seen in moderate Tory circles as a candidate who could unify the party.
Ms Patel, Ms Braverman and Mr Jenrick will all compete for the vote of those on the right of the party.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow chancellor, has ruled out running for the leadership despite fending off a challenge from the Liberal Democrats in his constituency of Godalming and Ash in the election.