James Cleverly gains momentum in bid to be new Tory leader as bookies slash odds

JAMES Cleverly is gaining momentum in his bid to be the new Tory leader.

Some 50 candidates who stood at the last election have endorsed the Shadow Home Secretary in an open letter seen by The Sun on Sunday.

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Their message reads: “We need to get our act together now.

“The public sent a very clear message they’d had enough of the perceived ‘Tory psychodrama’ in Westminster.”

Bookies have slashed their odds on Mr Cleverly leading the Conservatives after his star turn last week at the party’s conference in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch has been endorsed by US big beast Ron DeSantis.

The Florida governor, who ran against Donald Trump in the race to be the Republican presidential candidate, has released a video in which he backs the ex-Business Secretary.

In it, he says: “She has a commitment to conservative principles, she’s strong, she’s courageous, and she will be an inspiration for conservatives across the world.”

Betting sites currently favour Robert Jenrick over both Mr Cleverly and Ms Badenoch.

And fourth option Tom Tugendhat is widely expected to be knocked out this week.