Patel accuses rivals of waging ‘personal vendettas’ as she launches Tory leadership bid

The former home secretary joins the contest with Kemi Badenoch expected to confirm she will run and Suella Braverman at risk of insufficient support

The former home secretary Priti Patel entered the Tory leadership contest last night, accusing potential rivals of waging personal vendettas" and indulging in a soap opera of finger-pointing and self-indulgence".

Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing and communities secretary, is also expected to confirm she will run this weekend, before nominations close tomorrow. But another ex-home secretary, the firebrand rightwinger Suella Braverman, was said to be in danger of falling short of gaining the support of the 10 MPs needed to get through to the next stage.