How Jenrick’s team tricked five Cleverly supporters to reach Tory leadership last two
The IndependentSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy James Cleverly was eliminated from the Tory leadership race because Robert Jenrick’s team ruthlessly targeted his supporters “who hated Kemi Badenoch”, The Independent can reveal. What followed was a ruthless whipping operation led by Mr Jenrick’s core supporters including campaign manager Danny Kruger, Common Sense group chair Sir John Hayes, One Nation cheerleader John Lamont, Brexiteer Europe Research Group chair Mark Francois, and former minister Neil O’Brien. We passed that message around to others but after the closeness of the previous round it wasn’t really necessary.” What followed was a dual strategy to win over Tugendhat votes and peel away Cleverly supporters. open image in gallery James Cleverly supporters were persuaded to back Jenrick “What we did was to go to a group who we knew hate Kemi,” explained an insider.