Dame Priti Patel is set to formally launch her Tory leadership bid as she delivers her first major speech of the campaign. 

The former home secretary will set out her plan to rejuvenate the Conservative Party and her vision for improving the nation. 

She is expected to tell Conservative members that she is the candidate best placed to ensure the Tories have “all the tools needed” to take on Labour and to “send Starmer packing”. 

Dame Priti is one of six candidates standing to be Rishi Sunak’s replacement, along with James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat. 

Tory MPs will start voting next week to eliminate two candidates from the race, with the remaining four going on to make their case to members at Conservative Party conference at the end of Sept. 

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