- author, Paul Seddon
- stock, Political Correspondent
-
James has smartly called on the Conservatives to show more “self-discipline”, after becoming the first MP to confirm he is standing as the party’s next leader.
The former home and foreign secretary blamed the party’s election defeat earlier this month on “too much rowing between us”.
He also called for the Tories to “broaden our support base” as they seek to recover from their worst result in modern history.
A few more contenders are expected to announce their candidacies in the coming days, ahead of Monday’s deadline for filing nominations.
Contestants have to get the support of 10 colleagues to stand in a three-month competition to make Rishi Sunak the leader.
‘No links’
Other possible candidates include former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Preeti Patel, shadow defense minister Tom Tugenthat and shadow communities secretary Kemi Patenoch.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is also expected to run, while former cabinet minister Mel Stride has also said he is considering a leadership bid.
As well as serving in Mr Sunak’s cabinet, Mr Wise also held more junior government posts under Boris Johnson.
In a sign that he will try to run on a pitch to unify the party’s various factions, he said the party’s achievements in office were “overshadowed” by internal strife.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he also said the party needed to broaden its appeal, and when asked if Nigel Farage’s reformed UK could move closer, he said the party “doesn’t do the links”.
A Article for TelegraphHe wrote that he wanted the Conservatives to be a “natural home” for Lib Dem and Labor voters and supporters of reform.
He also called for defense spending to rise to 3% of national income and for more housing to be built in urban areas “as soon as possible”.
Despite calls by some MPs for the leadership rules to be changed, the party has been following the same process – since 1998 – to choose Mr Sunak’s successor.
Tory MPs will narrow the field of candidates to four to secure enough supporters during the party’s annual conference in Birmingham at the end of September.
In subsequent ballots, MPs will narrow the field down to the final two contenders, and party members will choose a winner.
Online voting will end on October 31, and the results will be announced two days later, three days before the US presidential election on November 2.
