There are now five names left in the running to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, as the race to take power in Downing Street hots up.
Jeremy Hunt, Nadhim Zahawi, and Suella Braverman were eliminated in the first two rounds of voting in the Tory leadership contest, leaving Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt, Tom Tugendhat, and Kemi Badenoch to fight it about ahead of the next ballot of Conservative MPs on Monday.
With the contest set to be whittled down to final two candidates next week before party members have the final say on who will succeed Mr Johnson, this is what our local Tory MPs and councillors in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham have had to say on who they are backing.
Read More: Rishi Sunak storms ahead in race to replace Boris Johnson as Suella Braverman eliminated
Dehenna Davison
The Bishop Auckland MP is backing foreign secretary Liz Truss to take over in No 10. Appearing on Question Time, she said: "It's got to be someone with a proper vision that's going to carry this country forward, that's going to make Great Britain a great place, that is going to inspire this country to want to do better and to move forward.
"For me, a person with that vision, with a good economic vision but also with a track record of delivery in government is Liz Truss, so if she stands she'll get my support."
Paul Howell
Sedgefield MP Paul Howell revealed on social media this week that he was throwing his support behind Rishi Sunak. Mr Howell, who was also elected in 2019 as the Tories took a number of ‘red wall’ seats around the North East, wrote: “Having worked with Rishi, I have seen first-hand, all that he has done for Darlington and the North East more broadly.
I am convinced that he is the right candidate to continue the task of levelling up our great country. Fundamentally I believe that Rishi has got what it takes to provide the leadership we need, and to steer the country through tough times.”
Richard Holden
Also backing frontrunner Rishi Sunak is North West Durham MP Richard Holden. He said the former chancellor had “listened and backed me” on issues including cutting draught beer duty and reversing a rise in motorhome tax, while also believing Mr Suank “won’t promise things he can’t deliver”.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The Berwick-upon-Tweed MP is the only one in our region so far to come out in favour of Tom Tugendhat. She said he was “ambitious for the reforms we need to deliver in order to make Brexit work and for our economy to thrive”.
She added: “He is brave in making the difficult decisions we will need to make, both at home and on the world stage, and he is committed to protecting and championing our great union. I believe Tom Tugendhat can deliver the reforms and the leadership that we need in the years ahead.”
Guy Opperman
The pensions minister, whose seat is Hexham, is yet to publicly declare support for any candidate. He posted on social media on Thursday to congratulate the remaining candidates, saying that it “takes great courage to stand for leader”.
Ian Levy
The Blyth Valley MP is another who has not committed to backing a candidate yet, though it has been reported that he would have sided with home secretary Priti Patel had she stood. Mr Levy was a loyal supporter of Boris Johnson, who he said had been a “strong ally” and a “friend to the Blyth Valley”.
Local councillors
Antony Mullen, leader of Sunderland Council’s Conservative group, has been a vocal opponent of Mr Johnson’s premiership. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he and the majority of his group want to see Penny Mordaunt take the No 10 hotseat.
Coun Mullen said: “She, particularly with her naval background, comes across as someone who is committed to public service, she is very patriotic, and respectful of institutions.
“I think she would quickly counteract the damage Boris Johnson did to the party’s reputation and on policy terms she has not been making knee-jerk commitments about cutting taxes without saying how to pay for it.”
Northumberland’s Conservative group confirmed that it would not be endorsing one candidate. Coun Richard Bell, the leader of Durham County Council’s Conservatives, said his group would not be making an endorsement either and that he was personally waiting until the field is narrowed to the final two to make up his mind on who to back – but said it won’t be Ms Mordaunt due to her “woke tendency”.
North Tyneside councillor Olly Scargill, however, said he was did support the trade minister. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “She has a formidable background in defence to tackle the huge international issues we're facing. And, crucial to the North East economy, she is the leader that will save the Union - with polls showing her high popularity in Scotland.”
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