A summary of today's developments
Rishi Sunak, who has yet to declare whether he will enter the race to become the next prime minister, has the support of 126 Tory MPs, according to the Guardian’s tally. Boris Johnson has the backing of 55 MPs and Penny Mordaunt, the only candidate to declare her interest publicly thus far, has 24.
Kemi Badenoch announced she is supporting Rishi Sunak to replace Liz Truss as prime minister. In an article for the Sunday Times, Badenoch, secretary of state for international trade, writes: “Mrs Thatcher won the public’s trust and three elections in a row by making it about us, not about her. We need someone who can do the same. I believe that person is Rishi Sunak.”
The former Brexit minister David Davis pledged his support for Rishi Sunak.
Steve Barclay, Boris Johnson’s former chief of staff, tweeted his support for Rishi Sunak.
The former cabinet minister David Frost announced he is backing Rishi Sunak.
A meeting between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson took place tonight in London, sources told the BBC and Sunday Times.
The former home secretary Priti Patel is backing Boris Johnson. She said the events of recent weeks have been “painful” for the Conservative party and that it must unite behind the winner of this week’s leadership contest “to restore our reputation for financial discipline” and deliver on its election manifesto commitments.
The veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said he will “resign” from the Conservative whip if Boris Johnson is chosen as the next prime minister. Speaking on LBC, he said he was backing Penny Mordaunt but would be “equally content to row in behind” Rishi Sunak.
Conservative chairman Sir Jake Berry has called for the party’s members to have a say on the next leader.
He told the Telegraph: “This is an existential crisis for the future of the Conservative party…
“If we believe in democracy, members cannot be denied a say on who the next leader of the party is.”
He added: “Politics is not delivered in this country by 650 MPs sat in Parliament; it is delivered by thousands of Conservative councillors up and down the country who deliver elections for the party.”
