Security minister Tom Tugendhat set to run for the Tory leadership if the Conservatives lose the election and Rishi Sunak stands down, sources say

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat is set to run for the Tory leadership if the party loses the election next month and Rishi Sunak stands down, the Mail understands.

The frontbencher, who ran a failed leadership campaign in 2022 and hails from the moderate wing of the Conservative Party, is said to be preparing for the race to replace the Prime Minister if the polling doesn't improve.

'He's definitely working quietly in the background,' a source said on Tuesday night. 

Mr Tugendhat is just one of a handful of politicians said to be keeping an eye on the top spot as party leader if the Tories lose and Mr Sunak steps down. 

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet ministers are still insisting that a shock victory is not out of the question on July 4, despite Labour's roughly 20 percentage point poll lead not decreasing in the campaign. 

Mr Sunak has confirmed he will stay as MP for Richmond, in North Yorkshire, for all five years if he is re-elected - no matter the outcome of the July 4 election - but has not said whether or not he plans to remain as party leader following defeat. 

A leadership battle would be the Conservative party's fourth in the last five years after the contest to replace Theresa May in 2019, Boris Johnson in 2022 and also Liz Truss in 2022.  

It comes as Mr Sunak on Tuesday welcomed Mr Johnson having a more active role in the campaign by putting his name to thousands of letters to voters, The Telegraph first reported. 

The Prime Minister said: 'It's great that Boris is supporting the Conservative Party, I very much welcome that.

'He is endorsing many candidates in videos and letters which have been coordinated by the campaign. I know that will make a difference.'

Mr Johnson, who is currently in Sardinia with his family, has recorded video messages for Tories including Sir Simon Clarke, Paul Bristow, Nick Fletcher, Tom Hunt and Jane Stevenson. 

It came as Mr Sunak underlined the Tories defensive strategy today as he campaigned in North Devon.

The PM joined former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox in Torridge & Tavistock - where he had a notional majority of nearly 23,000 at the 2019 election.

The pair joined a group of fishermen catching lobster, as well as chatting to local activists on the beach in Clovelly.

He later went on to visit North Devon, where Selaine Saxby is defending a majority of almost 15,000.

But Mr Sunak's focus on previously ultra-safe seats will heighten alarm within the party about the prospects of a near-wipeout on July 4.