Mel Stride considering Tory leadership bid

Asked whether he would consider throwing his hat in the ring, Mr Stride told Times Radio: “It’s something I’m considering.

“A number of colleagues have approached me and suggested that I might do that.

“We don’t yet of course know what the actual rules of the process will be – and I’ll want to wait to see that before I take a final decision – but it’s certainly a possibility.”

The Central Devon MP, who held onto his seat by just 61 votes after seeing his majority slashed, is seen as on the moderate wing of the party.

He was also prominient during the election campaign, picking up many national broadcast interviews as the Tories put forward their policies.

Over the weekend, a potential leadership rival on the right of the party, Mrs Braverman, warned the Tories risked becoming “centrist cranks”.

She has urged the party to take a harder line on migration, highlighting the threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party, which secured more than four million votes at the general election.

However, the Tories also lost votes to the Liberal Democrats in its traditional heartlands.

Mr Stride said the Tories needed a leader who would “unite the parliamentary party” and listen “to all wings”.