AND THEN THERE WERE 6
Rishi Sunak & Penny Mordaunt storm Tory PM leadership battle – but Hunt and Zahawi crash out
THE race to be Britain's next PM stepped up a gear tonight as two hopefuls stormed into the lead - but Jeremy Hunt and Nadhim Zahawi dramatically crashed out.
In the opening ballot of the Tory leadership contest Rishi Sunak cruised into first place after hoovering up 88 votes.
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Grassroots darling candidate Penny Mordant ran in at second with 67, with Liz Truss hot on her heels at 50.
Kemi Badenoch, and Tom Tugendhat also successfully made it on to tomorrow's second Tory MP vote.
But Mr Hunt and Mr Zahawi both failed to make the cut and crashed out after only receiving 18 and 25 votes respectively.
Candidates had to get at least 30 supporters to make it through to tomorrow's round of voting.
In more key developments:
- Ms Mordaunt launched her campaign with a pledge to slim down Whitehall
- She later topped a poll of who ordinary Tory members want to be PM
- Mr Tugendhat took a swipe at rivals scrimping on defence spending pledges
- Boris Johnson said he'd be leaving office with his "head held high"
In a humiliating flop, former heath secretary Mr Hunt actually lost supporters after bagging just 18 votes despite getting at least 20 yesterday to get onto the ballot.
After being knocked out he suggested he had fallen foul to a dirty tricks campaign.
He said: "A gentle word of advice to the remaining candidates: smears & attacks may bring short term tactical gain but always backfire long term."
Mr Zahawi said he now intended to focus on his work as Chancellor and suggested he would not be backing another candidate.
From tomorrow almost daily ballots will take place, with the candidates receiving the least number of votes knocked out.
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The final two contenders will be revealed by next Wednesday at the latest.
Despite being the early favourite Mr Sunak will be worried at the amount of support rallying around Ms Mordaunt.
A snap survey showed earlier that she is the number one pick for leader among over a quarter (27 per cent) of Tory members.
The bombshell YouGov poll shows that Ms Mordaunt has a commanding lead against every single competitor in the race were they to make the top two with her.
According to the poll the Trade Minister would even beat current hot favourite Mr Sunak 39 points.
Tax has become the central battleground in the contest, with most candidates pledging to let Brits keep more of their cash.
Former Chancellor Mr Sunak has peeled off from the pack by only promising tax cuts once inflation is reined in.
His stall as the candidate for economic responsibility sets him apart from rivals offering up huge tax cuts.
TORY LEADERSHIP RACE - TIMETABLE
WEDNESDAY July 13
- 1.30-3.30pm: Tory MPs voted in person or by proxy in Parliament for their preferred candidate to be the next party leader.
- Around 5pm: The results of the first round were announced by 1922 chair Sir Graham Brady. Both Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt crashed out after failing to reach the 30-vote threshold.
- Straight after: The remaining candidates fielded questions from Tory MPs at the 1922 hustings.
THURSDAY July 14
- Tory MPs vote in the second ballot and the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
FRIDAY July 15
- The remaining candidates go head to head in the first TV debate live on Channel 4 at 7pm.
SUNDAY July 17
- They will then do battle again with a debate on ITV at 7pm.
MONDAY July 18
MONDAY July 18 - The remaining candidates are put before Tory MPs at the third ballot. One more will be eliminated. Sky News will host the third TV debate at 7pm.
TUESDAY July 19 - WEDNESDAY July 20
- Knockout ballots will happen daily until just two candidates are left standing on Wednesday.
FRIDAY July 22
- The final two candidates tour the country trying to win the votes of 100,000 or so ordinary party members who will decide the next PM.
MONDAY September 5
- The results of the vote is announced and Britain's next PM is revealed
Ms Truss has vowed to cut taxes on day one if elected PM.
Grassroots darling Ms Mordaunt is promising eye-catching cuts to VAT on petrol and diesel to bring down crippling fuel costs.
Rising star Kemi Badenoch is steering clear of entering the tax "bidding war" but has made clear she wants the burden on Brits eased.
Instead she is serving up a platter of red meat policies that are going down a storm with many Tory MPs.
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She opposes the Net Zero 2050 target and the Online Safety Bill that risks handing powers to tech giants like Nick Clegg.
Brexit and defence spending have also emerged as key wedge issues separating the field.
Former soldier Mr Tugenhadt has vowed to hike cash for armed forces on day one if he wins the keys to No10.
He has taken a swipe at rivals - widely viewed as a dig as Mr Sunak - for scrimping on national security.
THE FINAL 6 - WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY PROMISING?
RISHI SUNAK
Key pitch: No tax cuts until inflation under control
The former Chancellor has laid out his stall as the candidate for economic responsibility while rivals go gung-ho on tax cuts.
He has promised to cut taxes only when inflation has been brought under control, warning to do so now would just hike prices higher.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes when inflation is down and public finances are repaired
- Plough on with the planned rise to 25 per cent corporation tax
- Keep the Rwanda immigration policy to cut small boats crossings
- Keep defence spending at current levels with no increase
- Publish a manifesto to protect women's rights
- Open the door to scrapping the BBC Licence Fee in the future
KEMI BADENOCH
Key pitch: Pull funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
Rising star Kemi Badenoch has signalled she wants tax cuts but is refusing to enter the "bidding war" among candidates to slash them the most.
Instead she is serving up a platter of red meat policies that are going down a storm with many Tory MPs.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes and rein in spending
- Opposes Net Zero 2050 target
- Open to the withdrawal from the Euro court
- Reduce funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
- Scrap the Online Harms Bill
- Reduce the amount spent on foreign aid
LIZ TRUSS
Key pitch: Tax cuts on day one as PM
Liz Truss is also pledging to cut taxes on her first day in office if she wins the contest.
The Foreign Secretary - who is yet to formally launch her campaign - has also vowed to publicly recognise China's persecution of Uighurs as a genocide.
Key policies:
- Reverse NICs hike and cut taxes from day one
- Reform the Euro court and leave altogether if not possible
- Publicly recognise the genocide in China
- Reduce the size of the state in comparison to the private sector
PENNY MORDAUNT
Key pitch: Halve VAT on fuel immediately
The Trade Minister says she is the candidate that Labour would fear most in a general election.
She has promised to slash taxes and help families by solving the childcare crisis.
Key Policies:
- Immediate 50% cut to fuel duty
- Establish a taskforce to address the “paralysis” in the NHS
- Appoint a cabinet minister with responsibility for family policies
- Repeal 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
TOM TUGENDHAT
Key pitch: Hike defence spending on day one
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair has painted himself as the “clean slate” candidate for a new and improved low tax, defence focused Tory Party.
He has pledged to slash fuel duty and raise hike up defence spending.
Key Policies
- Spend 3% of GDP on defence
- Establish an Institute of Technology in every major town and city
- Keep the Rwanda deportation policy
- Reverse the NI rise
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
Key pitch: Leave Euro court and deliver Brexit
The Attorney General has pitched herself as the flagbearer for the Tory right.
She has promised to crack down on wokery, slash taxes and shrink the size of the state.
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Key Policies
- Suspend the UK’s aim to reach Net Zero 2050
- Leave the European Court of Human Rights
- Cut VAT on energy
- Change the Northern Ireland Protocol so the EU has no say over taxes in Northern Ireland
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