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Tom Tugendhat MP has odds of 8/1 to become next Conservative leader as Boris Johnson PartyGate furore continues

A Kent MP continues to emerge as one of the frontrunners to become the next Conservative leader.

With Boris Johnson under fire as the party leader, only Liz Truss (6-1) is ahead of Tonbridge and Malling representative Tom Tugendhat in the latest odds offered by Oddschecker.

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat
Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat

He is at 8/1, alongside Jeremy Hunt, with Mr Tugendhat’s odds having halved since January.

Around that time, Mr Tugendhat said he would run as Conservative leader if Mr Johnson was forced out of power for breaching his own Covid-19 rules and potentially misleading the House of Commons.

The former soldier has been an MP since 2015.

Speaking on Times Radio at the time, the 48-year-old chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “I don’t think you should be embarrassed to want to serve your country.

“I was very proud to serve my country in the Armed Forces and I got to the highest rank I could so that I could have the best effect that I could. And I was very proud to serve as a diplomat around the world.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently at Lydd airport in Kent, accompanied by Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently at Lydd airport in Kent, accompanied by Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Other frontrunners include Ben Wallace (10-1), Penny Mordaunt (21-2), Rishi Sunak (12-1), Sajid Javid (17-1), Michael Gove (20-1), Nadhim Zahawi (23-1) and Dominic Raab (33-1).

Mr Tugendhat was recently in Poland to speak with politicians about Ukrainian refugees as he declared Vladimir Putin is "bringing his war to his own Russia".

While on his travels he spoke with Polish media, as well as MPs from both countries, and praised Poland for its efforts in helping refugees flee the war-torn country.

Alongside a video of himself at the border of the two countries, he wrote: "My filming is appalling, their kindness is inspiring.

"The sight of such human misery was bleak but the response to it was joyful. Thank you to all - Polish gov, volunteers, border guards - for all you’re doing for Ukrainians and others in need."

Mr Tugendhat served as a territorial army officer in Iraq and Afghanistan prior to becoming an MP.

He has been approached for comment.

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