A HEREFORDSHIRE MP has made national headlines amid reports that he is putting his name forward for Conservative party leadership.

Sir Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, is reported to have been canvassing colleagues for nominations.

According to Politico, the MP has emailed colleagues telling them he would like to see a return to "the principles which make us Conservative", writing that he wanted to see a return to small state and low tax and to seize the opportunities of Brexit with both hands.

Old Etonian Sir Bill, who was first elected to Parliament as the MP for Leominster in 2001, has never served in a ministerial position, but has held a number of shadow positions and was in the Whips office for two years.

A number of Tories are rushing to take sides in the race to become the new prime minister following Boris Johnson's resignation after Rishi Sunak declared he has set his sights on the top job.

Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch is the latest to throw her hat into the ring, with a plan for a smaller state and a government “focused on the essentials”.

Meanwhile, former minister Steve Baker has backed Attorney General Suella Braverman’s campaign – despite previously saying he was seriously considering putting himself forward for the top job.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also widely expected to run for leader.

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Tory MPs Chloe Smith, Julian Knight and Jackie-Doyle Price both expressed their support for the senior Cabinet minister on Friday, although she is yet to launch a bid.

The absence of a clear front-runner in the leadership race has tempted a number of less-fancied contenders to step forward – with backbencher John Baron saying he will be “taking soundings” over the weekend.

Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, has already said he will be be putting his name forward.

More are expected in the coming days including Mr Sunak’s successor as chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, and Ms Truss.

While Mr Zahawi has not yet launched a bid, Tory peer and minister Lord Goldsmith said on Friday evening he “stands apart from most rivals”.