Mel Stride out as four left in Tory leadership contest

Each of them will make speeches and give interviews at conference, with the four put through their paces repeatedly in front of party activists.

On the final day of conference, each candidate will give a speech in a repeat of the format that saw David Cameron emerge as the frontrunner to be the next Tory leader in 2005.

It will be a vital opportunity to woo the party’s 121 MPs and convince them they can restore their electoral fortunes from opposition.

An intensive round of hustings and multiple votes will follow the conference from 8 October, lasting three days, until only two candidates are left.

Conservative Party members will then choose which of the final two candidates they want as the new leader, with the result announced on 2 November.

A Labour Party spokesperson said the Tories had put forward “four people who played key roles in 14 years of chaos and decline”.

“Their failure to take responsibility for the mess they made, demonstrates that none of these candidates are cut out for the job,” the spokesperson said.