Conservatives launch plans to elect new leader

The announcement comes as Rishi Sunak ally Mel Stride, the shadow work and pension secretary, said he was “considering” announcing his candidacy for the race.

On Monday, Mr Sunak formally stepped down as leader of the Conservatives starting the process to elect his replacement.

He will remain acting leader of the party until a successor is appointed.

No-one has yet officially confirmed they will stand.

But other potential leadership candidates include former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, shadow home secretary James Cleverly, shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat and shadow communities secretary Kemi Badenoch.

The plans allow as many as 11 of the 121 surviving Tory MPs one week to file their nominations for the first round, which closes on 29 July.

Candidates will also be able to use the summer recess, starting next week, to mount their campaigns.

MPs will then begin narrowing down the field through a series of ballots when parliament returns in early September, reducing the field to four by the Tory conference at the end of that month.

The ballot of party members will close on 31st October.

Only members who have been a member for 90 days or more prior to the ballot closing, and have been an active member at the time of the nominations for candidates opening, will be eligible to vote, the party said.