Those vying to become the new party leader and the next prime minister will need to secure at least 30 votes to advance to the next stage. Today’s vote is expected to take place between 1.30 and 15.30, with the result announced at 17.00. The candidate with the fewest votes will drop out and further votes will be held in the following days. Politics Hub: Dorries accuses Sunak team of ‘dirty tricks’ and ‘dark arts’ The leadership hopefuls who are still running are: • Kemi Badenoch • Suella Braverman • Jeremy Hunt • Penny Mordaunt • Rishi Sunak • Liz Truss • Tom Tugendhat • Nadhim Zahawi Yesterday saw three candidates drop out of the race, with some high-profile losses as the race intensifies. Former health secretary Sajid Javid has withdrawn because he did not have enough nominations to make the first ballot – days after the avalanche of resignations that ousted Boris Johnson began. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps quit the race earlier in the day and fullback Rehman Chisti bowed out after no one publicly backed him. Home Secretary Priti Patel also revealed she would not be standing, giving Ms Truss a clearer position on the right of the party. The polls will be held until only two candidates remain. Both winners will then have the summer to win back the support of the Tory base, with 160,000 party members choosing which person they would prefer to be leader in a postal ballot. The new captain will be announced on September 5. Read more: Who are the candidates for the next prime minister? How many supporters does each candidate have so far? The tax cuts and spending promises from the leadership candidates Staying optimistic roasted over the coals Just an hour after it was confirmed who would appear on the first ballot, the eight MPs left standing were grilled by their colleagues in two rows of buttons. MPs could be heard banging desks on the mountains for Ms Mordaunt, Mr Tugendhat and Ms Truss – but Mr Sunak received only polite applause. Ms Braverman looked nervous and Mr Zahawi looked angry, Sky News’ chief political correspondent Jon Craig said from the corridor outside Committee Room 11. This morning there are going to be other movements. Ms Truss won the backing of prominent Johnson loyalists Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries and James Cleverly in what was seen as a concerted move to prevent Sunak from entering No 10 after his resignation brought down Mr .Johnson. “Dirty Tricks and Dark Arts” Despite the candidates insisting they want to run a clean campaign, shenanigans started almost immediately. Ms Dorries accused Mr Sunak’s team of “dirty tricks” after it was claimed one of his backers – former chief whip Gavin Williamson – was trying to “steal” votes for Mr Hunt to reach the final runner-up round with Mr. Sunak. “These are dirty tricks / stitch / dark arts. Take your pick. Team Rishi want the candidate they know they can beat for sure in the last two and that’s Jeremy Hunt,” he tweeted. Mr Hunt denied the claim, with a team source saying it was “categorically untrue” and urged candidates not to “slander opponents”. Mr Sunak’s supporters also rejected the allegation, saying: “It is a dirty story being spread by people who stand up to Rishi.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 3:25 Are future tax cuts affordable? Tax cuts galore The candidates have focused on cutting taxes, with Mr Tugendhat promising to cut fuel duty by 10p per liter and Mr Sunak promising to “reduce the tax burden”. But Ms Badenoch refused to enter a tax cut “bidding war” against the other candidates. Former soldier Mr Tugendhat sought to capitalize on his defense credentials as he pledged to spend 3% of GDP on defense as part of a 10-year economic plan. Johnson’s allies accused Sunak of being a “high-tax chancellor” but he denied this – insisting it was a matter of “when not if” he started cutting taxes. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:06 Rees-Mogg on ex-Chancellor Sunak Mr Sunak told the Daily Telegraph he would run the economy like Margaret Thatcher, telling the newspaper: “You have to earn what you spend.” The former chancellor added: “We will cut taxes and we will do it responsibly. That is my economic approach. I would call it common sense Thatcherism. I think that would do.” On the other side of the Commons, Labor MPs were left outraged after the government refused to allow a motion of no confidence in the government and Mr Johnson. The government said it was unnecessary as Mr Johnson was already going and the leadership race was on. Sky News is hosting a live televised debate with the candidates vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience. The debate will take place on Monday 18 July hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley. If you would like to join the virtual audience and have the chance to ask a question, please email [email protected]
