LEADERSHIP hopefuls will spend today battling for the support of 30 Tory MPs, with those who fail being axed from the race to be PM this afternoon.
As the Conservative leadership competition heats up, the contender with the lowest number of votes by 5pm today – even if they meet the 30 threshold – will be knocked out.
The eight contenders vying to be the next Tory leader and PM. From the top right: Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt, Nadhim Zahawi, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat, Jeremy Hunt, Suella Barverman and Kemi Badenoch
As of this morning there are still eight candidates in the running to be the next PM.
The hot favourite to win is Rishi Sunak.
The former Chancellor has the public backing of 53 MPs, so will sail through today’s round of the competition.
Penny Mordaunt will also pass today’s ballot, with the second highest number of supporters at 32.
For the remaining six candidates, the battle for backers is on.
They have until 3.30pm, when today’s ballot closes, to meet the 30 votes threshold.
At 5pm Sir Graham Brady, the Chairman of the 1922 backbench committee, will announce who’s made the cut.
Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch, Nadhim Zahawi, Jeremy Hunt and Suella Braverman are all struggling to hit the 30 mark.
Liz Truss is five supporters away from joining Mr Sunak and Ms Mordaunt in the safe zone.
The Foreign Secretary secured a major win for her campaign this morning as former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith came out to endorse her.
Influential Brexiteer Mark Francois came out to endorse Ms Truss this morning too.
