Robert Jenrick makes pitch to Tory centre with Cleverly frontbench offer

Conservative leadership candidate says he would be ‘delighted’ for eliminated rival to join his shadow cabinet

The Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has made a pitch to the centre of his party, saying he would be “delighted” for James Cleverly to join the shadow cabinet.

Cleverly, a centrist, was eliminated from the race on Wednesday, leaving the party with a choice between Kemi Badenoch and Jenrick, both on the populist right.