Tom Tugendhat has been endorsed by 10 council group leaders in the Conservative Party leadership race.
The Shadow Security Minister has been backed by three local authority leaders and seven leaders of Tory opposition council groups from across England who argue the MP is best-placed to unite the party and rebuild trust with the electorate.
Mr Tugendhat said: “It is an absolute privilege to have these excellent council group leaders backing me to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. I am thrilled to have their support.
“We need to remember that local councillors, members and activists are the backbone of our party and that we must champion their voices. As leader, I promise to do exactly that: unite the Party in Westminster, rebuild trust with the public and win in the 2025 local elections and beyond.”
The local leaders said in a joint statement that the Conservative Party lost the General Election because it failed to deliver on its promises, including on tax and immigration.
They added: “This election isn’t just a leadership contest – it’s a leadership crisis. We need something new – someone different.”
The group argued that under Mr Tugendhat’s leadership service would come first “underpinned by discipline” and “governed by honesty”.
Mr Tugendhat is one of six candidates for the Conservative leadership, facing competition from Dame Priti Patel, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride and Kemi Badenoch.
A new leader will be announced at the start of November, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget, which is due in October.
So far Mr Tugendhat has won the backing of former One Nation chair Damian Green, former ERG chair Steve Baker, former MP Jake Berry and Simon Jupp, who was MP for the former East Devon constituency. MPs Patrick Spencer and Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst also back Mr Tudenhat.
Councillors backing Mr Tugendhat include John Cope (Elmbridge), Bernie Muir (Epsom and Ewell), Claudine Russell (Maidstone), Matt Boughton (Tonbridge and Malling), Gary Marsh (Mid Sussex), George Perfect (Medway), Simon Newton MBE (Torridge), Nick Adams-King (Hampshire), Roger Gough (Kent), Shaun Garrett (Surrey Heath).
The group leaders said in a joint letter: “Choosing the next leader of the Conservative Party couldn’t be more important. No ward, division, or council has escaped the detrimental impact of the bickering within our party at a national level.
“Councillors and local council candidates have paid the price, through no fault of their own, at the ballot box.
“We must now hold Labour to account in the national government, and build a Conservative foundation in local government. We have never won a general election without first being the largest party in local government. This is also critical because Conservative councils deliver more effective services, lower council taxes, and better value for money.
“This is why we are supporting Tom Tugendhat to be the next Leader of the Conservative Party. He says what he means, and he does what he says.”
“The 2025 local elections will be our Party’s next test. Tom is fully committed to making the local elections a major priority, with both significant reforms to CCHQ and new powers and resources for local associations.
“Tom will unite our party, rebuild trust with the public, and win back our country.”
The council leaders’ endorsement comes after Dame Priti vowed on Friday that she would get the Conservatives back to winning if she were to become party leader.
The Witham MP and former home secretary touted her experience in Cabinet and her work on immigration and policing while presenting herself as a “grassroots Conservative” as she launched her campaign in London. She said she would get the party back to its “winning ways”.
