WINDSOR MP Adam Afriyie has revealed he will be backing Kemi Badenoch to replace Boris Johnson in the top job for Number 10.

The race has intensified between candidates Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, and Chris Tugendhat to be Prime Minister.

Conservative MP for Windsor Adam Afriyie has announced via social media he will be supporting Kemi Badenoch in the race for the top job, believing she is a “tough Conservative to the core” and will unite the party and the country “in the blink of an eye”.

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Mr Afriyie revealed who he is backing on Friday, 15 July, a day after the second ballot where Ms Badenoch came in fourth place with just 49 backers. Suella Braverman bowed out of the race after failing to secure enough votes.

Mr Afriyie tweeted: "I’ve come to the conclusion that it has to be Kemi for PM. I say that as someone who believes in enterprise, low tax, free speech & putting our country first. She represents a new era for our country and Party.

“The more I reflect, the more it seems to me that Kemi Badenoch is the best way for us to move into a new era of Conservatism. Pro-UK, low tax, straight-talking, tough. She performed incredibly well, without the usual thousands of [pounds] of media training."

Leading the charge to be the next Prime Minister is Rishi Sunak, who is the highest profile candidate in the race.

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Ms Badenoch, who is the MP for Saffron Waldon, quit Boris Johnson’s government as equalities and local government minister after a series of scandals.

She pledged to lower taxes, but to have a “tight spending discipline,” as well as have a “strong but limited government focused on the essentials”.

She also said she will “tell the truth” as “it’s the truth that will set us free.”