TORY leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick believes he is “nailed on” to be in the final two contenders.
It came as his rival Kemi Badenoch hit out at “sectarian Islamist politics” she said had no place in Britain.
The Tory leadership election roars into life this week as knockout voting begins.
Jenrick campaign sources kicked off a week of drama with dig at fellow frontrunner Badenoch for going on holiday during the campaign – insisting their man was the “hard-working” candidate and “this campaign doesn’t take holidays”.
Former Immigration Minister Mr Jenrick secured a boost as Shadow Justice Secretary Ed Argar became the latest MP to back his bid.
Ms Badenoch and ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly formally launch their campaigns today ahead of the first crucial vote on Wednesday.
In a punchy speech, the former Business Secretary said: “When everyone was worried about the election of Reform MPs, I was far far more worried about the five new MPs elected on the back of sectarian, Islamist politics- alien ideas which have no place here.”
Shadow Welfare Secretary Mel Stride, former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel and ex-Security Minister Tom Tugendhat are also in the running.
Tory MPs will knock out the candidates until two remain to go forward to a ballot of the wider party membership.
A Jenrick campaign source said: “In terms of where the race is right now, we are very confident as a team that we have an absolute nailed-on route to 41 votes and getting to the final two.”
“Depending on exactly who votes .. you need 40 or 41 votes. We are very confident that we have those votes and a clear path to achieving them. We’ve been working very hard with MPs.
“Our style has been to be as active as possible, to be as personal as possible, to be respectful and to listen to people’s concerns and to go and meet them in their constituencies over the course of the summer, and to try to build a broad coalition of people.”
Ms Badenoch will today brand Labour as “clueless, irresponsible and dishonest” as she sets out her Tory leadership stall.
The bookies’ favourite to replace Rishi Sunak will say the Conservatives need to “focus on renewal” to become “worthy of the British people’s trust again”.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho threw her weight behind Ms Badenoch’s campaign today.
Ms Badenoch will say: “Labour will fail; and when that time comes, and the British people are looking for change, we have to be that change.
“We have to focus on renewal. The renewal of our party, our politics, and our thinking.”
Whereas Mr Cleverly will say Britain should become a “family-first society” not over reliant on the state.
He will say: “We accept that the state has a primary duty to protect its people and its borders. But Conservatives must be honest about the trade-offs in doing these things properly.”
