The final televised debate in the Tory leadership contest has been canceled by Sky News after Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss pulled out of the event. The pair are said to have wanted to focus on the final vote by Tory MPs on Wednesday, but there are fears the two previous debates have caused “incredible” damage to the Conservative Party. Ms Truss and Mr Sunak butted heads on Sunday night in the second televised debate, with the former chancellor accusing the foreign secretary of offering “socialist” proposals in her bid for No 10. The Times reports that he turned to her after the ITV-hosted debate ended to ask: “Why are we doing this?” Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner described the candidates as “fighting like rats in a sack”, calling the contest “horribly embarrassing”. Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was “surprised” at the pair’s attempt to avoid scrutiny, adding: “Walking out of a televised debate when you want to be prime minister doesn’t show a lot of confidence.”
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Watch: Third Conservative leadership debate cancelled
The third Conservative leadership debate is cancelled Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 16:07 1658156158
Tugendhat says he will not withdraw from the leadership contest
Leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has insisted he will not withdraw from the race for No 10, despite facing the prospect of being voted out in MPs’ final vote on Monday. In a speech to the persecuted in 1922, Mr Tugendhat indicated that he was aware that his support from Tory MPs was likely to be lower than that of his opponents. The PA news agency understands he told MPs: “Tonight we go to the polls again. “And some of my colleagues suggested that I step aside, get behind someone else, that I’ve had a good campaign and I can leave with my head held high. “It will come as no surprise that some have suggested I could leave with a job as well. But my point is clear. It’s not for me to make that decision – it’s for you. “If I were to stand down now, then someone else would be eliminated tonight without an opportunity to make their case further, without an opportunity for you to judge them, look at their record and make one of the most important decisions of our time in Parliament.” Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 15:55 1658155258
Sunak’s supporter predicts ‘difficult day’ for his leadership campaign
Monday will be a “pretty tough day” for Rishi Sunak’s team, an MP backing the former chancellor’s No 10 bid said ahead of the leadership vote – and with none of Suella Braverman’s votes coming in this evening. They said Mr Sunak gave a “peer-centred campaign offer” during the 1922 Commission clash. The campaigner also said candidates must answer a variety of questions in the mandates, including the Conservative party union after the race to replace Boris Johnson. They told reporters: “Today is going to be a very difficult day for us in terms of the ballot because if you look at the free votes that range from the candidate who was knocked out last week, I think it’s probably fair to say that we’re not going to get a lot of them, I suspect. “So, assuming everyone else votes for who they voted for … I wouldn’t expect our vote to increase massively today.” They floated the prospect of further televised debates to take part in once the candidates are down to two. “Maybe it’s better to happen later, when there are fewer candidates … I would expect more discussions,” they said. Emily Atkinson July 18, 2022 3:40 pm 1658154418
Keir Starmer rules out ‘any deal’ with Lib Dems after next election
Keir Starmer has ruled out “any” deal with the Lib Dems after the next general election. The Labor leader had previously ruled out an electoral pact or coalition with the Scottish National Party, saying there would be “no deal on the general election and no deal on the other side”. However, he had not previously explicitly ruled out working with the Lib Dems, either as part of a coalition or under a looser supply and confidence arrangement. Our politics correspondent Jon Stone has the details:
Keir Starmer rules out ‘any deal’ with Lib Dems after next election
The Labor leader is taking supply and confidence regulation off the table Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 15:26 1658153698
Tory leadership candidates ‘confirm they are all committed to net zero by 2050’
All five remaining Tory leadership candidates have reportedly confirmed they are all committed to reaching net zero by 2050. According to Cop26 chairman Alok Sharma, the No 10 candidates made their pledges while attending the Conservative Environment Network, which gave MPs a chance to scrutinize the candidates on their climate plans. It comes after the cabinet warned yesterday that it may resign if the new prime minister does not take a strong stance on climate change. Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 15:14 1658153458
Voices: Labor now has a huge secret advantage over the Conservatives
Labor now has a huge secret advantage over the Conservatives | Marie Le Comte
Parliament rises on Wednesday for summer recess, but the Conservative Party will not take a break, writes Marie Le Conte Emily Atkinson July 18, 2022 3:10 p.m 1658152746
Kemi Badenoch said the recruitment of the 1922 Commission went well. Asked if she felt confident as she left, she told reporters: “Yes, always.” Liz Truss, meanwhile, told reporters she had “almost” recovered from Sunday’s ITV leadership debate as she prepared to go into the squats. Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 14:59 1658152334
There was a loud banging of a table just before Rishi Sunak left 1922 from the Commission compound. Asked how it went, the former chancellor told reporters: “All good, I’m enjoying it.” Emily Atkinson 18 July 2022 14:52 1658151936
‘Hole at the center of government’ over climate change planning, MPs warn
There is a “big hole at the center of government” over the resilience of the UK’s critical national infrastructure to climate change, a parliamentary committee has warned. The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy (JCNSS) said no minister was currently responsible for the matter and that the minister responsible had previously refused to testify. Amid a heatwave that sees the possibility of new record temperatures in Britain, the commission published a letter slamming a “pattern of disrespect from government ministers to select committees”. Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:
‘Hole at the center of government’ over climate change planning, MPs warn
National Security Committee criticizes ‘pattern of disrespect’ by ministers who refuse to testify Emily Atkinson July 18, 2022 2:45 p.m 1658151023
Penny Mordaunt has described the 1922 Committee huddles as “very pleasant”. Asked how it went, the Tory leadership candidate told reporters: “All very well, all very happy.” Emily Atkinson July 18, 2022 2:30 pm
