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The leading centrist group on the left of the Tory party has announced it will not endorse either of the hard-right candidates put forward by Conservative MPs in the race to become leader.
The Tory Reform Group (TRG), which is in its 50th year, issued a statement after former home secretary James Cleverly was shockingly eliminated from the contest on Wednesday.
It leaves two right-wing candidates Robert Jenrick, who wants the UK to leave the European Convention of Human Rights, and Kemi Badenoch, who has been a leading voice in the so-called culture wars, including on trans issues.
The TRG statement read: “Unfortunately, we have been consistently disappointed by the lack of engagement from the two candidates chosen by MPs.
"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."
The announcement came as centrists in the Conservatives took to social media to announce they will not vote for either of the candidates.
West Sussex councillor Ed Godwin, a member of the TRG, tweeted: “I won't be voting in this leadership race. I don’t relate to either candidate and feel they’ll continue with the same attitude and approach that brought our party to this point.
“The winner will obviously have a chance to win back dissatisfied members like me moving forward.”
His comments came after Labour and the Lib Dems openly rejoiced at the selection of two right-wing candidates in the final vote.
One Labour MP texted journalists asking if his party should declare Wednesday’s result as a gift.
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems simply posted a picture of a precarious blue wall waiting to be smashed down.
Mr Cleverly had looked set to go through after easily winning the penultimate round and eliminating his centrist One Nation rival former security minister Tom Tugendhat.
But vote switching saw the former home secretary eliminated, picking up 37 votes to Ms Badenoch’s 42 and Mr Jenrick’s 41.
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