James Cleverly’s campaign team has appealed to his supporters not to engage in tactical voting ahead of his surprise expulsion from the Conservative Party leadership race.

But some Tory MPs supporting Mr Cleverly were “half too clever” and took it upon themselves to try to manipulate the final result by voting for someone else.

Conservative MPs were surprised when the results of a secret ballot placed shadow communities secretary Ms Badenoch in first place and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick in second place. Mr Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, came third and was eliminated, meaning he will not be put to a vote by party members.

A day earlier, Mr Cleverly came first in a vote by the same MPs, following a speech at the Conservative conference which impressed his colleagues.

The change in fortune appears to be because some of Mr Cleverly’s supporters voted for Ms Badenoch in a bid to eliminate Mr Jenrick – believing their candidate was safe.

The Cleverly camp denies encouraging tactical voting and messages seen by the Sunday Express show his campaign team warned supporters it could end in disaster. One reads: “Be incredibly careful in voting Kemi to ensure a Cleverly vs. Kemi final.” I don’t think this is a chance for JC at all given how many people are moving their votes.

“If you really want James in the final, then you absolutely need to vote for him.”

A source said: “We didn’t encourage anyone to play games. In fact, we’ve warned against it because it’s just too dangerous.

“But some decided to vote tactically. They were half too smart.

“I know there are people who regret it now, but what’s done is done.”

This means Conservative MPs will now have to choose between two candidates both seen as representing the right of the party, with the result due to be announced on November 2.

The result dismayed some, with the conservative reform group Center or “One Nation” saying it could not support either candidate. The group, whose sponsors include former Prime Minister Sir John Major, said in a statement: “Both have used rhetoric and focused on issues that are far removed from the Party at its best, let alone the values of one nation that we cherish and defend. » .

Bookmakers William Hill have Ms Badenoch as favorite to win at odds of 8/15 while Mr Jenrick is at 6/4.