Tory MPs are more focused on who they don’t want as leader than who they do

‘While Rishi Sunak is viewed as a favourite for the final two, there will be no celebrations in his camp until he is there.’ Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

As the Conservative leadership candidates are whittled down to a final two, it’s becoming a case of “anyone but”. Already three of the 11 candidates have had to drop out owing to insufficient support: the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, the former health secretary, Sajid Javid, and the lesser known Rehman Chishti all failed to secure the 20 MP nominations required to make the ballot.

With eight candidates remaining, two main camps are forming: “Stop Rishi” and “Stop Liz”.