At last, a Tory strongman! James Cleverly does press-ups for cameras

James Cleverly showed off his press-up prowess for the cameras today as he tries to muscle into the Tory leadership battle.

The shadow home secretary stopped to burnish his strongman credentials while he was touring stands at the gathering in Birmingham.

Earlier this year Mr Cleverly took part in the Cancer Research challenge to do 100 push-ups a day - even memorably convincing Rishi Sunak to join him.

He was accompanied by wife Susie - who fought breast cancer in 2021 - this morning as he reprised his efforts at the charity's conference centre stall.

In a video on Mr Cleverly's Instagram page in April, then-PM Mr Sunak was shown joining the Home Secretary for the last day of the challenge after arriving back from his morning run.

After greeting his boss, Mr Cleverly was shown complimenting Mr Sunak on his 'good form' as they completed 20 press-ups.

But their task was made no easier by the PM's dog Nova jumping all over them on the Downing Street lawn.

'No, no, no thank you,' Mr Sunak shouted as his labrador retriever disrupted them, adding: 'Oh my God. No, Nova!'

Mr Cleverly raised more than £3,000 for Cancer Research UK as part of the charity's press-up campaign.

The Home Secretary has posted videos of himself completing the 100-a-day challenge both at home and in the Home Office, as well as with others - including his eldest son and friends.

On his fundraising page, Mr Cleverly wrote: 'Many of you will know that my wife Susie (The Gorgeous Mrs C) was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.

'Without the research that underpins modern cancer treatments Susie would not still be with us.'