James Cleverly was booted out of the race this week (Image: Getty)
James Cleverly’s campaign team issued a plea to supporters not to engage in tactical voting before his shock eviction from the Conservative leadership contest.
But some Tory MPs backing Mr Cleverly were “too clever by half” and took it upon themselves to try to manipulate the final result by voting for someone else.
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There were gasps of surprise from Conservative MPs when the results of a secret ballot placed shadow communities secretary Ms Badenoch in first place and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick second. Mr Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, came third and was eliminated, meaning he will not go forward to a vote of party members.
Just one day earlier Mr Cleverly had come first in a vote by the same MPs, following a speech at the Conservative conference which impressed colleagues.
The change in fortunes appears to have been a result of some of Mr Cleverly’s supporters casting votes for Ms Badenoch in an attempt to eliminate Mr Jenrick - in the belief that their candidate was safe.
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The Cleverly camp deny that they encouraged tactical voting and messages seen by the Sunday Express show his campaign team warned backers that this could end in disaster. One reads: “Be incredibly careful voting Kemi to ensure a Cleverly v Kemi final. I don’t think it’s in the bag at all for JC given the amount of people moving their votes around.
“If you actually want James in the final, then you should definitely vote for him.”
A source said: “We didn’t encourage anyone to play games. We actually warned against it, because it’s just too dangerous.
“But some people took it upon themselves to vote tactically. They were too clever by half.
“I know there are people who regret it now but what’s done is done.”
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It means Conservative members will now choose between two candidates both seen as representing the right of the party, with the result due to be announced on November 2.
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The outcome has dismayed some, with the centre-ground or “one nation” Tory Reform Group declaring it cannot endorse either candidate. The group, whose patrons include former Prime Minister Sir John Major, said in a statement: “Both have used rhetoric and focused on issues which are far and away from the Party at its best, let alone the One Nation values we cherish and uphold”.
Bookmakers William Hill have Ms Badenoch as favourite to win with odds of 8/15 while Mr Jenrick is on 6/4.