Dame Priti Patel pledges to turn Tories into winning machine as she pitches to become leader

DAME Priti Patel has thrown her hat into the ring to be Tory leader — pledging to turn her party into a winning machine.

The ex-Home Secretary is targeting battle-weary members by promising greater powers, such as helping to elect party chairman.

Currently, the role is handed out by the party leader.

Dame Priti joins James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and Mel Stride in the race to be the next Leader of the Opposition.

Shadow Housing Secretary Kemi Badenoch was keeping her powder dry last night but The Sun on Sunday understands she also has enough signatures to run.

Dame Priti — a Boris Johnson ally — remained loyal to both PMs Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak against a backdrop of the bitter Tory civil war.

With more than 30 years of service in the party, she argues her experience in both government and opposition can make the Tories “match-fit”.

It is understood she will set out a wider package on Tory Party reform in the coming weeks.

And, like other candidates, she is pitching herself as a unity candidate.

Dame Priti, who was the architect of the Rwanda deportation plan, said: “It isn’t our heroic members who failed, but politicians’ distraction from public service.

“We must turn our conservative values into strong policies to bring about positive change for people across our country.

“It is time to put unity before personal vendetta, country before party, and delivery before self-interest.

“I have done this throughout my 30-plus years of service. I can get us match-fit to win the next general election.”

Nominations close at 2.30pm tomorrow and contenders need a proposer, seconder and eight other backers to stand.

MPs will narrow the field down to four who will make their case at their annual party conference from September 29 to October 2.

The final two will be put to a vote of party members in an online ballot that will close on October 31 — with the result on November 2.