Tory leadership race latest LIVE: Boris Johnson’s return would send party into ‘death spiral’, warns Hague

The return of Boris Johnson to Number 10 would send the Conservative Party into a ‘death spiral’, William Hague has warned.

The Tory grandee, once leader himself and former Foreign Secretary, said Mr Johnson’s return was “the worst idea I’ve heard of in the 46 years I’ve been a member of the Conservative Party”.

On Wednesday afternoon Penny Mordaunt became the first Tory to officially declare she wants to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister - but all the eyes are on a possible swift return to power for Boris Johnson.

Rishi Sunak had got off to the fastest start on Friday, with Mr Johnson trailing behind him.

By mid-afternoon, more MPs had publicly declared for Mr Sunak, with one tally putting him on more than 70.

Even once whips and other party figures, who have to remain publicly neutral, are included, the ex-Chancellor was ahead of Mr Johnson - but many MPs on the Tory Right were yet to declare.

Ms Mordaunt’s declaration may inject some momentum into her campaign which had not got many more MPs supporting her on Friday, and was believed to be around the 20 mark having publicly said they would back her.

Ms Mordaunt tweeted: “I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest.

“I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister - to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE.”

Early momentum is often crucial to win over wavering MPs who will not want to publicly back a losing candidate.

The race is on

07:42 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Good morning. Today is Friday, October 21, and welcome to the Evening Standard’s politics live blog.

We are (again) facing a Tory leadership race, after Liz Truss finally bowed to mounting pressure and resigned yesterday just six weeks after becoming Prime Minister.

Her successor is to be chosen from within the Conservative Party within a week, despite widespread calls from outside the party for a general election to be called.

No candidate has yet officially declared interest, but Tory MPs Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson look likely to be in the running.

Follow along for updates throughout the day, as we bring you everything you need to know during this extraordinary, fast-moving time in UK politics.

Boris Johnson not the person to take over as PM, says ex-minister

07:52 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Boris Johnson is not the person to restore the reputation of the Conservative Party, A Tory MP has said as he called for Rishi Sunak to take over as leader.

“I don’t think we can go back there for the next two years,” former minister Crispin Blunt told Sky News.

“Boris Johnson has the most astonishing set of skills but there are one or two weaknesses kicking around in that personality and they were fairly brutally exposed…

“He is probably not the character to restore our reputation for the next two years because of that controversy”.

Mr Blunt said a comeback by Mr Johnson would mean the party would be “probably straight back in the pickle we were in when he left office”.

He added: “Rishi Sunak is head and shoulders rank above the rest of us in terms of his basic personal capabilities of being Prime Minister, and that’s why he would now be my choice.”

Another former minister agrees...

07:59 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Sir David Lidington, who served in the Cabinet Office under former prime minister Theresa May, has also said Boris Johnson should not succeed Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

Sir David said the former Prime Minister “has had his chance” and that competence is now needed from the person who takes over at the country’s helm.

He said Mr Johnson’s time in office ended with 60 ministers and parliamentary private secretaries saying “they did not feel they could remain in his government and that he was not fit to lead an effective administration”.

“We do need competence now at a time of great economic challenge for this country,” Sir David told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“Boris Johnson has always been somebody who has focused on the big picture, not on detail.”

He added that Mr Johnson is still under investigation by Parliament over whether he deliberately misled MPs over the so-called partygate scandal.

“I think he has had his chance and the Conservative parliamentary party concluded just a few months ago this could not go on and it would not be right for him to continue as Prime Minister – that, after all, is why he resigned,” he concluded.

What will the leadership race involve?

08:04 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Candidates will need the backing of at least 100 MPs in order to run in the Tory leadership race, and the entire process is due to be concluded by next Friday.

Here’s 1922 committee chair Sir Graham Brady explaining how it will work...

Labour and Lib Dems say Truss should not receive £115k annual allowance

08:13 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Leaders of the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have said Liz Truss should not receive the allowance of up to £115,000 a year she will be entitled to as a former prime minister.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “She should turn it down. I think that’s the right thing to do.

“She’s done 44 days in office, she’s not really entitled to it, she should turn it down and not take it.”

His comments echo those made this morning by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey who, when asked if Ms Truss deserves the payment, told LBC radio: “No. Most people have to work at least 35 years to get a full state pension.

“I think working 45 days shouldn’t give you a pension that is many, many times what ordinary people out there get after a lifetime of work”.

Tory MP throws support behind Boris Johnson

08:18 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Boris Johnson should try to make a comeback as prime minister because he is “our best electoral asset,” a Conservative MP has said.

Karl McCartney, the MP for Lincoln who is on the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, said there is public support for Mr Johnson to return as “people have been coming up to me for the past week and saying they want Boris to come back and I certainly do as well.”

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I did not want him to resign in the first place.

“I think the Labour Party and some of the media did a credible hatchet job over six months and got rid of our best electoral asset.

“In the marginal seat of Lincoln I know that my majority, which is the largest it has ever been after 2019, was because Boris Johnson was the prime minister and was the leader of our party that was the most credible person at the time to get the majority.”

Lib Dem leader: Tories have a duty to call a general election

08:20 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Tory MPs have a “patriotic duty” to call for an early general election, Sir Ed Davey has said.

The Liberal Democrat leader told BBC Breakfast: “The Conservative Party have shown they’re unfit to govern our great country. We don’t need another Conservative prime minister lurching from crisis to crisis. We need to get rid of them.

“I think the Conservative MPs now need to do their patriotic duty and work with the opposition parties to get that general election so that British people can have their say”.

But, he said, the Tories will “probably try to cling on to power”.

He said the Conservatives are “so divided” and that he doubted any of the leadership candidates could unite the party.

A string of Tory MPs have announced they’re backing Rishi Sunak

08:24 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Several Tories have come out in support of Rishi Sunak as a potential successor to Liz Truss.

Ministers Robert Jenrick and Claire Coutinho and backbenchers Guy Opperman, Siobhan Baillie, Angela Richardson and Robin Walker have all taken to Twitter to say they believe the former chancellor is the right man for the job, after he finished runner-up in the summer’s leadership contest.

Mr Jenrick, who previously backed Mr Sunak for PM, said on social media the former cabinet minister would “restore public confidence in our party and market confidence in our economy”, and “unite” the Conservatives.

Mr Opperman, who also supported Mr Sunak over the summer, described him as a “serious person for serious times”. He added in a tweet: ““He was right about the economy during the summer: we need his leadership to get us back on track.”

Boris Johnson as PM would help save Conservative Party, says one Tory MP

08:30 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A Tory MP calling for Boris Johnson to replace Liz Truss said the former prime minister can prevent the party from being “completely wiped out” at the next general election.

When it was put to him Mr Johnson was brought down by a mass exodus of his own ministers, Peterborough MP Paul Bristow told BBC Breakfast: “Well, that was then, this is now. We’re facing a crisis as a party. We could go down and be completely wiped out without Boris Johnson as our prime minister…

“Boris Johnson has a mandate from the members of the party and from the electorate. I’m sure my colleagues will reflect on that when they vote, and we can avoid a general election, we can go out and put this band back together, we can have political heavyweights around that Cabinet table and we can go on and win the next general election. I’m convinced of that”.

He said Mr Johnson can “unite all factions of our party”.

Pictured: Truss arrives in Downing Street

08:34 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Liz Truss has been pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning, following her resignation yesterday.

She will remain in office until her successor has been chosen.

Rishi remains tight-lipped...

08:46 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak did not answer questions from reporters as he left his home this morning.

Mr Sunak said nothing as he walked a few yards from his front door to a waiting black Mercedes.

MPs announce support for Penny Mordaunt

08:55 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Scottish Tory MP John Lamont has made the case for Penny Mordaunt to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister, arguing she would bring together the “strongest” Government.

He tweeted: “I’m backing @PennyMordaunt to stand because she would bring together the strongest government with the best and brightest talents from across the Conservative party”.

Former Cabinet minister Dame Maria Miller also declared her backing, should Ms Mordaunt go for the job, sharing supportive messages with the hashtag #PM4PM.

Sunak’s ‘strong economic understanding’ brings him support

09:03 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Gloucester MP Richard Graham has thrown his support behind Rishi Sunak as a potential successor to Liz Truss, saying: “What we need above all now is a PM with strong economic understanding & judgement. Have confirmed to my constituents on Radio Glos am in no doubt that person is Rishi Sunak.”

He is the latest in a number of Tory MPs - including Tynedale and Ponteland MP Guy Opperman, Newark MP Robert Jenrick, and Worcester MP Robin Walker - who have endorsed Mr Sunak while citing his economic credentials.

Mr Opperman said: “I remain of the view that @RishiSunak is the right person to be our Prime Minister. He was right about the economy during the summer: we need his leadership to get us back on track.”

Mr Walker wrote on Twitter: “To deliver for Britain we need economic credibility, experience & great communication, someone who can be trusted to look after the most vulnerable, protect livelihoods & support our NHS - @RishiSunak has all of this & can bring the party together #ReadyForRishi”

Newark MP Robert Jenrick added: “I’m backing @RishiSunak to be our Prime Minister.“Rishi will restore public confidence in our party and market confidence in our economy.”

Pictured: Rishi Sunak outside his home this morning

09:08 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak remained tight-lipped on his intentions as he left his home in London this morning.

Mr Sunak - tipped as a strong candidate in the Tory leadership race, but who has not yet officially thrown his hat in the ring - chose not to respond to reporters who asked if he is putting himself forward.

Penny Mordaunt ‘taking soundings from colleagues’ over whether to run

09:10 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Penny Mordaunt is not currently working on a leadership bid, though the Cabinet minister is “taking soundings” from colleagues on the prospect of her standing to replace Liz Truss, an ally of the MP has said.

A source close to the Commons Leader and former contender for the top job told the PA news agency: “It’s a testament to Penny’s campaign over the summer how many colleagues have already come out asking her to stand.

“At the moment there isn’t a campaign but Penny has always been the candidate that can unite the party, deliver and beat Labour.

“At the moment she’s been taking soundings from her colleagues and has been busy speaking to as many as she can.”

‘Calm competence’ makes Sunak attractive option in time of turmoil, says MP

09:17 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak is the best person to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister because he brings “calm competence” at a time of economic trouble, a Conservative MP has said.

Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme “the key problems we have facing us today are economic” and Mr Sunak should be trusted “because he understands the economy so well”.

He added: “The whole country is crying out for some stability and I think that’s what Rishi can bring – that calm, competence in everything he does.

“He has been tested in the second highest office of state as chancellor and I think he will bring the same calm competence to the job as prime minister.”

Labour: Tories are treating PM role like ‘pass the parcel'

09:21 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Conservatives are treating the top political jobs in the country like a game of pass the parcel, with the nation needing a general election, according to Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

“The longer the Conservatives are in power, the less fit they are to govern,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “They have caused huge amounts of damage.

“The volatility in the financial markets that has added to government borrowing costs but also the borrowing costs for home owners – the truth is just passing around the prime minister, the chancellor job like it is some sort of game of pass the parcel is not going to provide the country with the leadership and stability that we desperately need.

“We are calling for a general election.”

She added: “I know there are many Conservative MPs who are also desperately worried about the place we find ourselves in as a country – the undermining of our position in the world and looking like a laughing stock increasing around the globe.”

Rees-Mogg becomes first minister to publicly back Boris

09:29 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has become the first member of the Cabinet to back Boris Johnson for Tory leadership.

A staunch loyalist of the former prime minister, Mr Rees-Mogg tweeted a graphic that said “I’m Backing Boris” alongside the hashtag “#BORISorBUST”.

Suella Braverman to make statement announcing whether she is running...

09:39 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she will make a statement “in due course” on whether she will run for the Tory leadership.

Asked if she will stand, she told Sky News outside her home: “I’m making a statement in due course”.

New Tory leader must be able to unite party, says crossbench peer

10:07 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The leadership election must be won by someone who can unite the Conservative party, former Cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell said.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme everyone will want to “get this done quickly”, adding that a result by Monday or Tuesday would be helpful.

“It’s got to be clear that that person can unite the Conservative party,” he said.

“You can have the fiscal statement, the budget, but if it involves getting things through the House and the Conservative party are not united - and therefore there’s uncertainty about whether it will go through the House or not - then you don’t get that certainty even if there is a budget statement.”

Hustings to be held ahead of leadership vote

10:15 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

There will be a hustings for MPs before they begin voting in the Tory leadership contest on Monday, Sir Graham Brady has said.

The chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers confirmed there will be “a parliamentary hustings before the parliamentary votes”.

The first ballot of MPs is to be held between on Monday afternoon – if there are three candidates with the required number of nominations the loser will be eliminated.

Once there are two candidates remaining, an indicative vote will be held so that the party membership know which is the preferred option among MPs before they have their say.

Stanley Johnson suggests Boris will run, but refuses to confirm

10:20 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Boris Johnson’s father would not say if the former prime minister was making a political comeback.

Former Conservative MP Stanley Johnson said of his son: “I think he is on a plane as far as I understand it”.

When asked on Good Morning Britain if Mr Johnson was returning from his trip abroad early, his father said: “I can’t tell you”.

However, in comments suggesting his son would be running for the Tory leadership again, Stanley Johnson told the programme: “I am going to listen to what the candidates have to say – this is the serious point – I will listen to all of them and I will say ‘OK, I think I’m going to support Boris. I am pretty sure I am going to support Boris’.

“I am just speaking now as a voter but I want to be sure that he sticks to the 2019 manifesto.

“I particularly want to be sure, because I am an environmentalist, that he gives a very strong promise not to proceed with (Jacob) Rees-Mogg’s absurd Bill which is coming before the House again next week.”

He said the proposed Bill could lead to the “scrapping of 750 environment laws”.

Labour leader repeats call for general election

10:21 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Sir Keir Starmer warned against a “revolving door of chaos” as he called again for a general election following the dramatic resignation of Liz Truss.

The Labour leader told broadcasters: “The risk is not a general election. The risk is continuing with this chaos.”

Asked if he most fears ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak as a potential successor to Ms Truss, he said: “We’ve got to get away from this idea… the sort of revolving door of chaos, and that we just get the next experiment at the top of the Tory party.

“What matters is what happens to this country. And there’s the contrast: more of this chaos or stability under a Labour government.”

Sir Keir ‘surprised’ by Ukraine’s Boris Johnson meme

10:27 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Sir Keir Starmer said he was “rather surprised” by a now-deleted tweet by the Ukrainian government that appeared to suggest Boris Johnson should be brought back to No10.

Ukraine posted a meme based on the Netflix show Better Call Saul, with a photo of Boris Johnson’s face beside the words ‘better call Boris’, amid speculation the former prime minister might attempt a political comeback.

Labour leader Sir Keir told broadcasters: “I saw that tweet. I was rather surprised by it.

”As far as Ukraine is concerned, my absolute imperative is to make sure that we’re all supporting Ukraine in the face of aggression from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.

“So I was surprised by the tweet, but look, in the circumstances that they face, my absolute focus is on giving Ukraine all the support we possibly can.”

Watch: Tory MP outlines why he is backing Boris Johnson

10:41 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow has told BBC Breakfast why he would vote for Boris Johnson, if the former Prime Minister enters the Tory leadership race.

Petition calling for a general election passes 300k signatures

10:58 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A petition calling for a general election has surpassed 308,000 signatures following Liz Truss’s resignation.

Launched by The Independent three days ago, the petition attacks Ms Truss’s 45 days in office - the shortest premiership in UK history.

The online newspaper’s acting editor David Marley says Ms Truss had no mandate to govern the country after winning the leadership election with 81,000 votes from Tory members.

“Who is leading our country should be decided in a general election, not in the strange bubble of yet another Conservative leadership election,” he writes.

“It is time for voters to decide who should govern the country and uphold the democratic principles our governing bodies are built on. For this reason we are calling for a general election now.”

Read more here.

The Lib Dems are attempting to block Boris Johnson from becoming Prime Minister...

11:21 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to block Boris Johnson from becoming prime minister again.

The party has tabled a motion in Parliament that seeks to stop MPs found to have broken the law while in government from getting into No 10.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Conservative MPs are flocking to support yet another disgraced prime minister.

“The British public will never forget the way Boris Johnson repeatedly lied to them over his Covid lawbreaking. Partygate and the subsequent cover up proved he is unfit to govern this great country.”

Following Met Police investigations into parties held in breach of Covid lockdown regulations - dubbed ‘partygate’ - Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie received £50 fines for a surprise birthday bash held for him in Downing Street on June 19, 2020.

Citing both this and the Government’s unlawful failure to protect care home residents during the pandemic, Ms Cooper added: “Boris Johnson’s tenure as prime minister demonstrated that he simply has no regard for rules or for the general public.

“It is time to end this Conservative party soap opera. People’s mortgage bills are spiralling out of control and local health services are at breaking point. The country deserves better than yet more Conservative chaos and incompetence.”

Labour MP resigns over ‘serious sexual misconduct’

11:48 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

In breaking news from outside the Tory leadership race, a Labour MP has resigned after Westminster’s Independent Expert Panel recommended he should be suspended for “serious sexual misconduct”.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld two allegations of sexual misconduct against Christian Matheson by a former member of his staff.

Mr Matheson, who was elected in 2015, denies serious sexual misconduct but has today resigned as MP for the City of Chester, after the Labour party stripped him of the whip and asked him to step down following the commissioner’s conclusion.

Read the full story here.

Rishi moves into early lead against Boris in race to be next PM

12:20 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

More MPs have declared they back Rishi Sunak in the race to be Britain’s next Prime Minister - putting his public support above 50, and greater than that for Boris Johnson.

Even once whips and other party figures, who have to remain publicly neutral, are included, Mr Sunak is believed to be narrowly ahead of the former Prime Minister.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt is trailing Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson by a significant margin.

Among 10 more MPs who announced their support for Mr Sunak this morning are former Chief Whip Gavin Williamson, former Cabinet minister Liam Fox, Poole MP Sir Roberts Syms and Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes.

Mr Williamson wrote on Twitter: “I believe @RishiSunak is the best person to take the Conservative party and, most importantly, the country forward. He has the talent, integrity, and humility necessary to provide us with a fresh start and a steady hand. I am proud to support him.”

Dr Fox, MP for North Somerset, said he is supporting Mr Sunak as his “economic judgement, energy and optimism are what our party and our country need to secure a better future.”

No candidate has yet formally declared a bid to enter the contest to become the next Tory leader, and PM, but early momentum is often crucial to win over MPs who are on the fence.

BREAKING: Ben Wallace rules himself out of race, ‘leans towards’ Boris

12:27 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says he will not be entering the leadership race - and would instead currently “lean towards Boris Johnson” as a candidate.

Mr Wallace said the Conservative Party must consider “who could win the next election” when selecting a leader.

Johnson returning to No10 would be ‘catastrophic’, says Tory minister

12:42 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Selecting Boris Johnson as Tory leader would be “absolutely catastrophic”, Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman has said.

The Tory MP tweeted: “There are several very good potential candidates for Conservative leader. But choosing Boris now would be — and I say this advisedly — an absolutely catastrophic decision.”

Defence Secretary ‘leaning towards’ backing Boris

12:43 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Ben Wallace said he is “leaning towards” Boris Johnson as his choice to replace Liz Truss in Downing Street - adding weighty support to Mr Johnson’s potential cadidacy.

Ruling himself out of the contest, the Defence Secretary pointed to Mr Johnson’s record on defence spending and cited the mandate the former prime minister won in 2019.

Mr Wallace argued that without national security, there is “no economic security,” and said he believes it is “important” that whoever puts themselves forward for the top job indicates that.

But he said he also has to “recognise the issue of the mandate”.

“This will be potentially our third prime minister since the general election of 2019, that means we have to think about that legitimacy question that the public will be asking themselves, and also about who could win the next election – that’s obviously important for any political party at the time,” he told broadcasters.

“So at the moment, I would lean towards Boris Johnson. I think he will still have some questions to answer around, obviously, that investigation, but I know when I was Secretary of State for Defence, he invested in defence, he supported me, he supported the actions this country has taken to keep us safe.”

Questions over whether Liz Truss gets a resignation honours list

13:04 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

There is growing clamour to stop outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss from making a resignation honours list.

Most departing Prime Ministers get to nominate people to the House of Lords and for other honours when they leave office. But as Truss only lasted a few weeks, she may not be allowed.

No10 this morning said it had “no confirmation” either way whether Truss would be granted permission to make one after spending just over a month in Downing Street.

Clamour online to deny Truss a list is growing, with former Tony Blair aide Alastair Campbell tweeting: “Neither she nor Johnson should be allowed a resignation honours list. They have no honour. They have disgraced and debased an office they should never have held.”

Read the full story here.

Pound falls amid political uncertainty and weak economic data

13:09 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The pound has slid to its lowest level this week as downbeat economic data and the prospect of political uncertainty increased nervousness in the financial markets.

Sterling fell by 1.16% to 1.110 against the US dollar on Friday morning. The pound was also down 0.64% at 1.14 against the euro.

The poor performance by the pound has been partly caused by weaker-than-expected economic data.

Earlier on Friday, official figures showed that Government borrowing struck £20 billion last month, more than £2 billion more than economists had expected - an increase driven by higher debt interest due to rising inflation.

New PM to decide on Jeremy Hunt’s fiscal plan

13:24 , Bill Mcloughlin

The new Prime Minister will have to decide whether to go ahead with the planned Halloween statement setting out how the Government intends to get the public finances back on track, Downing Street has said.

Work is continuing in Whitehall, led by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in preparation for the medium-term fiscal plan to be announced on October 31 along with an updated set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

However, a No 10 spokeswoman said it would be up to Liz Truss's successor to decide whether to proceed with that approach and with the same timetable.

"Major fiscal decisions will be for the next prime minister," the spokeswoman said.

"Work is ongoing in preparation for the medium-term fiscal plan. That is obviously led by the Chancellor working with the PM in the usual way.

"We are working in preparation for the 31st but obviously the decision on proceeding with that and with that timetable would be for the new prime minister."

George Eustice announces support for Rishi Sunak

13:34 , Bill Mcloughlin

Conservative MP George Eustice said he will backing Rishi Sunak to become the next Conservative Party leader.

The former Environment Secretary said: "I'm going to be backing Rishi Sunak in this contest.

"I think in the leadership campaign over the summer, he won in all of the exchanges that took place in hustings.

"As far as I can see, he had the biggest base of support within the parliamentary party, and we really need someone now who can unite the party, pull it together, but crucially, who's got the judgment to be a good Prime Minister to get those key decisions right, so that we can deal with some of the great challenges that the world faces."

Cost of Government borrowing goes up

13:43 , Bill Mcloughlin

Jeremy Hunt: I’ll do everything I can to drive down debt

13:55 , Bill Mcloughlin

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said on Friday he would do “whatever is necessary” to drive down Britain’s debts after official figures showed public sector borrowing rose to £20 billion last month.

Higher interest payments on Government debt helped push borrowing to the second highest September number since records began in 1993 and £2.2 billion more than the same period last year.

The figures underlined the scale of the challenge facing the Chancellor and the next Prime Minister ahead of a critical fiscal statement on October 31 — just days after the new leader is due to move into Number 10.

“Strong public finances are the foundation of a strong economy,” Mr Hunt said. “To stabilise markets, I’ve been clear that protecting our public finances means difficult decisions lie ahead.”

Read our story here.

Protest demanding general election set for Guy Fawkes night

14:14 , Bill Mcloughlin

Following Prime Minister Liz Truss’s resignation on October 17, the Conservative Party has started the search for its next leader.

However, as trust in the Conservative Party has significantly decreased after two PM resignations in one term, many members of the public believe the country needs a general election instead of a new Conservative leader.

Politics4You has announced it has organised a formal protest to demand a general election.

Revealing the decision on Twitter, the group said: “We hereby formally announce a formal protest on the 5th of November to demand a general election. The Met Police have been notified.”

Read our story here.

Levelling Up minister becomes third Cabinet member to back Boris

14:19 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Simon Clarke has become the second Cabinet minister to officially declare he wants Boris Johnson to replace Liz Truss in No 10.

He joins Jacob Rees-Mogg who was quick to endorse Mr Johnson this morning, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also said he is “leaning towards” supporting the former prime minister.

Together with Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, Levelling Up Secretary Mr Clarke told the Telegraph: “Boris is the person we need to lead our country and our party.”

Sharing the article on Twitter, he added: “Teesside has had difficult times and is now levelling up because of @BorisJohnson. Tees Valley Mayor @BenHouchen and I know that for us, like Boris, the comeback will be greater than the setback.”

UK’s political situation ‘looks bad’ says former Italian PM

14:38 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Giving a sense of how UK’s political turmoil is perceived on the world stage, former Italian prime minister Mario Monti said the nation’s situation “looks bad” and “is a pity for everybody”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “Certainly I’m very concerned to see a country like the UK who, well, we all remember wanted to be a more agile citizen of a globalised world and in fact seems to find elementary difficulties simply in governing itself economically and politically.

“This is a pity for everybody.”

Not backing Rishi was a mistake I will not repeat, says Tory MP

14:58 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Tory MP Nigel Mills said it was a “mistake” for him not to back Rishi Sunak during the summer’s leadership contest that was won by Liz Truss.

As the current race to become Conservative leader and Prime Minister heats up, Mr Mills said the former chancellor would be his choice to replace the outgoing prime minister.

He tweeted: “A few weeks ago I changed my mind and didn’t back @RishiSunak.

“I’m not making the same mistake again, he is clearly the Prime Minister we need to restore stability and tackle the many serious challenges facing the country.”

Treasury select committee chair throws weight behind Rishi

15:01 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Mel Stride, Tory MP for Central Devon and chair of the Treasury Select Committee, has come out in favour of Rishi Sunak as the next Conservative leader.

Sharing an overnight poll by Opinium - which suggested members of the public favoured Mr Sunak ahead of potential rivals Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt - Mr Stride said uniting to support the former Chancellor would help the Conservatives “avoid the loss of a vast number of seats at the the next General Election”.

BREAKING: Penny Mordaunt becomes first to throw hat in ring

15:38 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt has become the first MP to officially declare she is running to become Conservative leader and Prime Minister.

Making her announcement on Twitter shortly after 3.30pm, she said: “I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest.

“I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister - to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE.”

Ms Mordaunt is understoof to have held talks with Jeremy Hunt and assured him he can stay on as Chancellor if she becomes Prime Minister.

She also assured Mr Hunt she would deliver the medium-term fiscal plan as proposed on October 31, according to a source close to the Commons Leader.

Former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom backs Mordaunt

15:50 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Former cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom has backed Penny Mordaunt to be the new Tory leader, citing her “compassion” and “determination”.

Quoting a post from Ms Mordaunt announcing her bid, Ms Leadsom tweeted: “Delighted by this!

“Penny has the experience, the compassion and the determination to lead our country to a bright future!”

She added the hashtag #PM4PM.

Who is Penny Mordaunt?

16:07 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Trade minister Penny Mordaunt is among the frontrunners to take over from Boris Johnson as prime minister - second only to former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the number of endorsements from Tory MPs.

The Portsmouth North MP is also a favourite among Tory party members and has consistently appeared at the top of Conservative Home polls.

Here, we take a full look back at her political and personal history.

Javid to endorse Sunak

16:40 , Daniel Keane

Sajid Javid is set to endorse Rishi Sunak, according to The Times’ Lara Spirit.

The former Cabinet minister resigned twice from Boris Johnson’s Government.

His resignation last June was key to Mr Johnson’s downfall, prompting a slew of other ministerial resignations.

More than half of Britons don’t want return of Johnson

16:44 , Daniel Keane

More than half of Britons would be unhappy to see Boris Johnson return as prime minister, according to a poll.

The YouGov poll of 3,429 adults on Friday suggested 27% would be happy to see him return to office, compared with 52% who did not like the idea.

Conservative voters were more favourable, with 25% saying they would be happy and 31% would be very happy. However, 13% of Tory voters said they would be very unhappy and 8% fairly unhappy.

Chris Philp backs Sunak

16:57 , Daniel Keane

Cabinet Office minister Chris Philp said he would back Rishi Sunak to replace Liz Truss in No 10.

Mr Philp, who was moved from his old post as chief secretary to the Treasury last week in the wake of mini-budget turmoil, tweeted: "After a lot of thought I've decided to support and nominate Rishi as the next PM.

"I think he will serve our country's national interest very well in the months and years ahead, through globally turbulent times."

He said he hopes the Tory party "unites around whoever wins, in the national interest".

Johnny Mercer throws weight behind Sunak

17:16 , Daniel Keane

Former minister Johnny Mercer backed Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race.

He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "I think now we need to clearly come behind someone who is capable, professional, calm, competent and will deliver government in a way people expect.

"For me that is Rishi Sunak."

Ex-minister backs Johnson

17:33 , Daniel Keane

Alok Sharma, former business minister and COP26 minister, has backed Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership race.

He tweeted: “I am backing @BorisJohnson - he won a mandate from the electorate in 2019.

“We need to get back to delivering on the @Conservatives manifesto we were elected on.”

Mordaunt backer ‘confident’ she will get 100 MPs on side

17:49 , Daniel Keane

A Tory MP backing Penny Mordaunt's leadership bid said he is "incredibly confident" she will get the 100 MP nominations needed to reach the members' voting stage.

Robbie Moore (Keighley & Ilkley) said: "What we need now is a candidate more than ever that is able to unite the Conservative Parliamentary Party, able to unite our membership, but most importantly that is able to deliver on the 2019 manifesto commitments that we made, and that is exactly why I think Penny is the right person to take not just the Conservative Party forward but our nation forward."

On whether she would get get the endorsement of 100 MPs, he added: "Absolutely, and the reason I say that is because there are a lot of Conservative MPs having conversations as we speak, things are very fast moving and a lot have not actually declared who they're voting for at the moment.”

Election ‘last thing the country needs’, says Tory MP

18:01 , Daniel Keane

Mr Moore claimed the “last thing the country needs” is a general election.

"My view is we need to unite behind a candidate that is able to drive us forward in delivering on those manifesto commitments of 2019, and Penny is absolutely the right person to be able to do that."

Asked why he is supporting Ms Mordaunt when she came third in the last leadership contest, he added: "So Penny came third in the last parliamentary election that Conservative MPs had the ability to vote on, but that was only by eight votes so she was incredibly close.

"And that's why we find ourselves in this position - all Conservative MPs have the ability to make that decision of who they want to put forward, but in Penny we have a candidate that is able to reach out to all sides of the parliamentary party."

Bringing back Johnson would lead to ‘death spiral’, says senior Tory

18:10 , Daniel Keane

Letting Boris Johnson back into No10 would precipitate a “death spiral” for the Conservative party, a senior Tory has warned.

William Hague said bringing the former PM back was the “worst idea” he had heard in his 46 years as a member of the Conservative Party.

He told Times Radio: “I think it’d be a very, very bad idea to bring Boris Johnson back. The Conservative Party was doing pretty well until about 18 months ago as the government considering all the problems facing the country. And then things have unravelled spectacularly, including with this disastrous, latest six weeks.

“And this all started, this unravelling, because Boris Johnson was unable to run the government in the right way, to keep it together in the right way, to uphold the high standards of conduct that are necessary in the highest offices in the land.”

He added: “I don’t know what exact form this death spiral I’m talking about would take, but it would be it would be a spiral. And very difficult to pull it back together again.”

Boris Johnson ‘to fly back’ from Caribbean holiday, claims MP

18:32 , Daniel Keane

A Boris Johnson-supporting MP has said the former prime minister told him he is "up for it" and will fly back to the UK from his Caribbean holiday to stand in the Tory leadership contest.

Sir James Duddridge said: "I've been in contact with the boss via WhatsApp.

"He's going to fly back. He said, 'I'm flying back, Dudders, we are going to do this. I'm up for it'."

Tory MP hails Mordaunt’s ‘wealth of experience’

18:48 , Daniel Keane

Tory MP Robbie Moore said Penny Mordaunt's "wealth of experience" would make her an effective prime minister, adding that he hopes she keeps Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor.

Mr Moore (Keighley & Ilkley) said: "So Penny has held nine different portfolios over eight ministerial departments over 12 years.

"She has a wealth of experience over many government departments and the ability to then bring that to the top job is great.

"And Penny will be able to use that breadth of skills she has got, as well as her calmness, her decisive decision-making, her ability to communicate, and also unify all parts of the parliamentary party to go forward, to crack on, to deliver what our constituents want, which is how we are going to improve their communities for the better.”

Another Cabinet minister backs Johnson to become PM

19:00 , Daniel Keane

Another Cabinet minister has come out in support of Boris Johnson.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the transport secretary, tweeted: “I have worked closely with ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ for many years.

“He can continue to deliver for the country and already has a mandate. It’s time to #bringbackboris.”

Rees-Mogg: Tory members should decide on next PM

19:13 , Daniel Keane

Jacob Rees-Mogg has insisted that Tory members should decide the next Prime Minister.

He told the Telegraph: “I’m always in favour of the members deciding the leadership - I think that’s the right place for it to go.

“And I think the 1922 Committee and the Board of the Tory Party have done really well to get it to a position where that can be done swiftly. I’m in favour of it going to the membership.”

He also gave his enthusiastic backing to Boris Johnson, saying: “The Tory party has to unite. We have been too divided. And it’s striking that when Boris Johnson took over in 2019, we had been 30 per cent behind in the polls.

“Shortly after he leaves, we’re back to being 30 per cent behind in the polls. I think he is the only realistic prospect who can unite the party and has a well-shown election winning record.”

Watch: Liz Truss leaves Downing Street in sunglasses the day after her resignation

19:35 , Daniel Keane

Robbie Moore backs Penny Mordaunt

19:52 , Tom Davidson

Tory MP Robbie Moore said Penny Mordaunt’s “wealth of experience” would make her an effective prime minister, adding that he hopes she keeps Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor.

Mr Moore (Keighley & Ilkley) told the PA news agency: “So Penny has held nine different portfolios over eight ministerial departments over 12 years.

“She has a wealth of experience over many government departments and the ability to then bring that to the top job is great.

“And Penny will be able to use that breadth of skills she has got, as well as her calmness, her decisive decision-making, her ability to communicate, and also unify all parts of the parliamentary party to go forward, to crack on, to deliver what our constituents want, which is how we are going to improve their communities for the better.

“We have just seen a new Chancellor be appointed and with that appointment came a huge amount of markets reassurance, stability being installed, which is what we need to do.

“I would quite like to see Penny keep the Chancellor in his position.”

Another MP comes out in support of Boris Johnson

20:17 , Daniel Keane

Another Tory MP has come out in support of Boris Johnson.

Anthony Higginbotham tweeted: “Over the last 24 hours my inbox has been inundated with messages. The majority view, and my view, is clear. It’s time to #BringBackBoris.

“He has the mandate to lead our country & our party.”

Former minister backs Mordaunt

20:31 , Daniel Keane

A Tory former minister has come out in support of Penny Mordaunt.

Marcus Fysh tweeted: “Penny Mordaunt is the candidate who will bring @Conservatives together, appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, and deliver on the crucial work we must do to build a great future for people in all parts of our country.”

Two further declarations of support

20:50 , Daniel Keane

Two more Tory MPs have declared their support for potential leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.

Veteran Tory Brexiter Bill Cash has vowed to vote for Mr Johnson.

And Jamie Wallis, MP for Bridgend and Porthcawl, said he would vote for Mr Sunak.

He wrote: “This has been an incredibly tough decision. But following my calls for PM to resign on Sunday, I promised to make this decision with the country’s security & stability the only consideration - in doing so it’s clear it simply has to be Rishi Sunak.”

Johnson ‘open to meeting Sunak and discussing a deal’

21:24 , Daniel Keane

A Tory source told the Financial Times that Mr Johnson would be “open” to meeting Mr Sunak and discussing a deal to avoid the pair facing off in the final round, amid fears the party would “rip itself to shreds”.

It follows other media reports suggesting that Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak could even work together in Government, in turn preventing a divide emerging in the party.

Mr Sunak resigned from Mr Johnson’s Government in June, precipitating a string of ministerial resignations that led to his downfall. He has since faced accusations of “backstabbing” from Tory MPs, with the issue proving highly divisive during the summer leadership contest.

That’s all from us

22:15 , Daniel Keane

Thanks for following our live coverage.