The race to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader is heating up as Cumbrian MPs reveal their preferred candidate.
Eleven Tory MPs have thrown their hat in the ring since Boris Johnson’s resignation on the steps of Downing Street last Thursday.
Candidates have sought to distance themselves from the controversy of Mr Johnson’s premiership since announcing their bid to replace him.
Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who announced his bid last week, has called the political turmoil of the last few weeks “a wake up and smell the coffee moment.”
Tom Tugendhat made his intentions to stand for party leader clear for months and now that the contest is officially underway, he has taken a similar line of attack to Mr Javid, calling for a clean start.
Mr Tugendhat’s bid to become leader of the Conservative Party and the next PM has now been backed by Carlisle MP John Stevenson and Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Border.
Moments before the Prime Minister announced his resignation, Mr Stevenson said that Mr Tugendhat was someone who could unite his party.
Dr Hudson announced today, Monday, that he will also endorse Mr Tugedhat. He said: “I am backing Tom Tugendhat for PM as he has the background, international experience and integrity to lead us.
“He understands issues facing both rural and urban communities and he can unite our country moving forward.”
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has backed Nadhim Zahawi to be the next Prime Minister.
Mr Zahawi was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in the cabinet reshuffle last week, having previously served as Education Secretary.
Mr Jenkinson said: “Over the last few days I’ve sought constituents’ and member’s views on who to back for the leadership.
“In choosing who to back, I need to get behind the candidate that will be a friend to Workington, one who knows the challenges new seats like ours face, and the solutions to them. For me that’s Nadhim Zahawi.”
Mr Jenkinson said that he wants to see the Conservatives “be the party of opportunity that I grew up under – the party that takes a steel apprentice from Workington and puts him in the House of Commons.”
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison has backed Grant Shapps in the leadership race. Mrs Harrison was elevated to a new role as Minister for Transport last week.
She said: “I’ve worked with Grant in Government and seen him deliver in tough circumstances. Unshackled by Europe, I know he will take our country forward to its best days.”
