Home Secretary Sajid Javid has become the ninth MP to enter the Conservative leadership race after Theresa May announced her plan to resign last week.
Mr Javid, who has held a range of ministerial posts since his election as MP for Bromsgrove in 2010, said there was a need to "restore trust, bring unity and create new opportunities across the UK".
The 49-year-old, who backed Remain in the referendum but has since positioned himself as a firm Leaver, said: "First and foremost, we must deliver Brexit."
Mr Javid became the first home secretary from an ethnic minority background when he was appointed in April 2018.
The son of a Pakistani bus driver from Rochdale, he was a managing director at Deutsche Bank before being elected to Parliament.
Announcing his intention to stand in a message on Twitter, Mr Javid said: "I'm standing to be the next leader of Conservatives & Prime Minister of our great country.
"We need to restore trust, bring unity and create new opportunities across the UK.
"First and foremost, we must deliver Brexit. Join TeamSaj to help me do just that #TeamSaj."
Mr Javid joins eight other Tory MPs vying for the top job, including Cabinet colleagues Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart, Matt Hancock and Michael Gove.
Former Cabinet ministers Andrea Leadsom, Esther McVey, Dominic Raab and Boris Johnson have also thrown their hats into the ring to replace Mrs May.
The new Tory leader looks set to take over as prime minister at the end of July after Mrs May finally laid out a timetable for her exit from Downing Street.
The timetable for the contest will mean nominations close in the week of June 10, with MPs involved in a series of votes to whittle down the crowded field to a final two contenders.
Tory Party members will then decide who wins the run-off.
