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Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk joins county backers of Rishi Sunak

Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk has joined the list of Gloucestershire Conservative MPs throwing their weight behind Rishi Sunak in the forthcoming Tory Party leadership election.

Mr Chalk tweeted yesterday afternoon: "I'm backing Rishi Sunak because he's hugely able, and would be the serious leader we need for serious times.

"He acted decisively to protect the economy during the pandemic, and he has the intelligence, competence and vision to deliver an exciting future for our country."

Stroud MP Siiobhan Baillie and Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper have already expressed their support for the former Chancellor.

Among the other Gloucestershire MPs, Gloucestershire MP Richard Graham and Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown have yet to declare who they will be backing, though Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson has said he would support Home Secretary Priti Patel if she entered the race.

Talking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Sir Geoffrey said: "There are many good candidates out there but I am not going to declare publicly because being part of the process I must be impartial."

Sir Geoffrey was asked about how vicious the contest was getting, with Nadine Dorries, a good friend of Boris Johnson, being particularly scathing about Rishi Sunak. She apparently said that when they wanted to lift Covid restrictions, it was very difficult to get the former Chancellor to meetings to commit to any policies at all.

Sir Geoffrey said: "I think the infighting doesn't do anyone any good and I think Nadine is very foolish to say some of the things she's said. Having said that, if we are going to have bloodletting, let's have it. Let's get democracy at work. Let's elect a new leader on behalf of the country because there's some very serious problems out there."

Candidates vying to be Conservative Party leader - and the next PM - must secure nominations from at least 20 MPs today to enter the contest.

Ten candidates have now thrown their hats into the ring after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps dropped out of the race this morning.

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has told the BBC that he's got enough support, while Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat have also passed the threshold.

Other candidates could still enter if they get enough nominations by 6pm this evening.

Conservative MPs will begin voting tomorrow (Wednesday), with the field being whittled down to two finalists before the end of next week

A winner will be picked by Conservative Party members over the summer - with the winner, and new PM, announced on 5 September

Sir Geoffrey has been re-elected unopposed as treasurer of the Conservative 1922 Committee while Mr Graham has also been elected onto the Committee as an Executive.

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