The Brexit minister of the party would be the 11th MP to enter the race. Mr Cleverly is tipped to make an announcement today after a grassroots website declared him “the future leader”. The website’s slogan reads: “Let’s All Win with James Cleverly.”
A further message on the campaign said: “We are Conservative Party members who believe that James Cleverly is the future leader of our party and our country.”
The MP for Braintree in Essex will compete against MPs including Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove.
Mr Johnson is favourite to win with odds of 7/4.
He has said the party could be “fired from running the country” if it does not deliver Brexit.
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The Conservative Party leadership election was triggered when Theresa May announced on May 24 she would resign as leader on June 7.
Mrs May will stay in her position until the party chooses a new leader to replace her.
She has urged her successor to seek a consensus over Brexit as Brussels stressed there could be “no renegotiation” of the Withdrawal Agreement.
The current candidates have differing stances on how Brexit should be delivered.
Mrs May, attending a summit in Brussels, said the European election results in which the Tories took just nine percent of the vote were “deeply disappointing”.
She said: ”I think what it shows is the importance of actually delivering on Brexit. I think the best way to do that is with a deal.
“But it will be for my successor and for Parliament to find a way forward and get a consensus.”
The comments are aimed at Brexiteers in the race to replace her who have said they are prepared to back a no deal departure from the EU, something which could lead to a clash with Parliament.
