Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb | Matt Cardy - WPA Pool /Getty Images Stephen Crabb declares he is running to replace David Cameron UK Work and Pensions Secretary emailed Tory MPs Tuesday to announce his candidacy.

LONDON — U.K. Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb has officially declared that he is running to replace David Cameron as Conservative party leader.

Crabb’s candidacy was announced in an email to Tory MPs sent at 12.46pm Tuesday, sources told POLITICO.

The 43-year-old is supported by MPs Simon Hoare, Maria Caulfield and Craig Williams.

Crabb, who reports suggest will form a “blue-collar dream team” with Business Secretary Sajid Javid as his chancellor, grew up on a low-income council estate in Pembrokeshire, west Wales.

He is running as the antidote to the old-Etonian rule of David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

As well as Johnson, Crabb’s main rival for the Tory leadership is likely to be Home Secretary Theresa May.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced Tuesday that he was considering running, while Liam Fox, the former Defence Secretary, and Angela Leadsom have also been named as potential candidates.

Nominations for leadership open Wednesday and close at noon on Thursday. If there are more than two candidates put forward there will be an election among Tory MPs to whittle the field down to a straight choice to be put to Conservative Party members. A new leader will be announced by September 2.