James Cleverly has overtaken Robert Jenrick in the race to become the next Tory leader, a survey of party members suggests. The former home secretary, who was lagging behind, has stormed ahead to second place in members’ first preferences just days before the next round of voting.

James Cleverly’s bid to become the next Conservative Party leader received a huge boost as a new poll suggested he would beat frontrunner Robert Jenrick. The former Home Secretary is now second amongst Conservative Party members, according to a poll Conservative Home.

Cleverly’s strong speech to last week’s Tory conference in Birmingham has blown the fight to succeed Rishi Sunak wide open, as the party’s 121 MPs prepare to whittle down four candidates to a shortlist of two.

Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are the final candidates for the Tory top spot. Although the race was announced on 5 July, the leader will not be revealed until early November – although two candidates have called for the timeframe to be cut down.

James Cleverly has overtaken Robert Jenrick for the first time in polling of Tory grassroots. A Conservative Home survey of activists conducted over the two days after the party conference last week in Birmingham showed Mr Cleverly leapfrogging Mr Jenrick.