A source told Express.co.uk: “James [Cleverly] you were approached to do the work. No offer was made, but a discussion took place. “
The idea gained support in the cabinet after what they believe was a “faint” presidency by Mr Dowden.
One cabinet minister told Express.co.uk: “James would be a good choice. He is a real fighter and will bring some of the energy we missed to CCHQ (Conservative Central Office). ”
Mr Cleverly, who is currently Liz Truss’s number two in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), allegedly said he would be “willing to do it”, but was concerned that he “did what he did there”. is.”
Mr Cleverly, a leading Brexit and former leadership candidate, was Boris Johnson’s party chairman after winning the 2019 leadership competition against Jeremy Hunt.
He led the party operation during the 2019 Brexit emergency election and helped the prime minister secure a historic 80-seat majority, the largest for a Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher’s 1987 victory.
As chairman, he accepted the role of lead in television interviews and famously clashed with Sky’s Kay Burley when she was vacant after she claimed he had an offer to get on her show.
READ MORE: Plans to tackle illegal immigration ‘WILL fail due to May’