The Latest Breaking News from Tom Tugendhat

The contest to replace Boris Johnson as Tory party leader and Prime Minister heats up as eight MPs progress to the next stage.

The leadership contender promised to increase defence spending, saying “security always comes before spreadsheets”.

Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss still lead the way.

Candidates jostle for position as contest begins in earnest, with some hoovering up support and others floundering

I was invited to Sunak’s leadership campaign launch. Then I wasn’t. Surely someone who wants to lead our country can’t be scared of a little gentle mockery?

Eight candidates will compete to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, the committee in charge of organising the leadership contest said on Tuesday.

Contest to succeed prime minister described by one Conservative politician as the ‘wacky races’

Eight candidates will compete to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, the committee in charge of organizing the leadership contest said on Tuesday. The nominated candidates were Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Tom Tugendhat, Liz Truss and Nadhim Zahawi.…

The eight candidates who got through to the first round come from across the party, with Rishi Sunak the early favourite