Former government minister Mel Stride has said there is a “reasonable chance” he will run to become Conservative Party leader.

The shadow work and pensions secretary said he was considering putting himself forward to replace Rishi Sunak as it was “important for the country that we have a strong Conservative Party”.

He told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley: “We’ll have to see, I haven’t made any decision.

“We don’t know what the process is.

“Colleagues have been talking to me about it, I am considering what I may or may not do.”

He added there is a “reasonable chance” he could run and will make a decision “relatively soon”.

Mr Stride said if he is a candidate he will not be engaging in “blue on blue” fights to gain support.

Tory leadership: Suella Braverman’s ‘cranks’ jibe sparks warning over ‘blue-on-blue’ attacks

Tory MPs win 1922 tug of war with party officials over timeline for leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak apologises to Tory MPs eight times at party ‘wake’

The shadow minister added the Conservative Party does need to “appeal” to voters it lost to Reform UK – something another potential candidate, former home secretary Suella Braverman, has said needs to happen.

“As we need to appeal to those we lost to both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats,” he said.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

Third COVID wave could occur in late summer if reopening continues, scientists warn Bournemouth beach evacuated after ‘large marine animal’ spotted in water Boris Johnson spent weekend visiting Queen at Balmoral Female-led police force asks men to ‘do the right thing’ to end harassment against women Plaque dedicated to murdered PCSO Julia James goes missing on day her killer is convicted UK car production rises again but industry warns of ‘alarming’ energy costs ‘Come clean’ and apologise to Meghan, Harry tells Royal Family Woman screamed ‘turn back’ while being mauled to death in attack by ‘multiple dogs’ Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of teenage boy ‘This is our time’: Treble dreams for Man City fans in Turkey for Champions League final Football club reviewing CCTV to find fans behind ‘appalling’ Lucy Letby chant Wimbledon school crash: Woman arrested over deaths of girls released under investigation