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Tory leadership: How the next UK prime minister will be chosen Tory leadership: How was the new UK prime minister chosen?
(about 3 hours later)
The search for a new Conservative Party leader is under way, following the resignation of Liz Truss as prime minister. Rishi Sunak will be the new prime minister after he won the Conservative Party leadership election.
Her replacement will become the fifth Tory prime minister in six years. The contest followed the resignation of Liz Truss as prime minister.
How will the Conservatives elect a new leader? Mr Sunak will become the fifth Tory prime minister in six years.
How did the Conservatives elect a new leader?
NominationsNominations
The Conservative Party leadership nominations close at 1400 BST on Monday. Under the rules of the latest leadership contest, candidates needed to have the support of at least 100 Conservative MPs (not including themselves).
Candidates will require the support of at least 100 Tory MPs. Rishi Sunak was the only one to reach that level and so became the party leader.
As there are currently 357 Tory MPs, a maximum of three candidates can reach that. As there are currently 357 Tory MPs, a maximum of three candidates could have met the threshold.
If only one candidate gets the support of 100 MPs they will become the next leader. The other contenders - Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt - both withdrew from the process.
They will also become the new prime minister.
There are currently two declared candidates - former chancellor Rishi Sunak and cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt.
Who are Tory MPs backing to be next PM?
Standing not the right thing to do, says JohnsonStanding not the right thing to do, says Johnson
Vote among Tory MPsVote among Tory MPs
If more than one candidate has 100 nominations, there will be a vote among Conservative MPs. This will take place between 1530 BST and 1730 BST on Monday. If more than one candidate had gained 100 nominations, there would have been a vote among Conservative MPs.
If there are two candidates in that ballot, it will be indicative. This means it will show who has the most support among MPs. If there had been two candidates in that ballot, it would have been indicative. This means it would have shown who had the most support among MPs.
If there are three candidates, the one with the fewest votes will be eliminated, with the result announced at 1800 BST. If there had been three candidates, the one with the fewest votes would have been eliminated, before an indicative vote would have been held.
There would then be an indicative vote between 1830 and 2030 BST, with the result at 2100 BST.
Vote among party membersVote among party members
If two candidates remain at the end of the ballots - because no-one withdraws after the indicative vote - members of the Conservative Party will decide on the next leader and prime minister. If two candidates had remained at the end of the ballots, members of the Conservative Party would have decided on the next leader and prime minister.
They will take part in an online vote to decide the winner. They would have taken part in an online vote to decide the winner.
Before the vote among party members closes, it is hoped the two candidates would take part in a television debate.
The winner
The new party leader and prime minister will be declared by Friday 28 October.
Will party members definitely be involved?
Removing party members from the voting process would probably have required a change to the Conservative Party's constitution.
But the rule requiring a vote of members only applies if there are two remaining candidates.
When Theresa May became leader in 2016 her opponent Andrea Leadsom dropped out. This meant Mrs May became party leader without a vote being put to members.
So, even if two candidates emerge in this contest, it's possible the members won't get the final say.
How is the next prime minister appointed?How is the next prime minister appointed?
Whoever wins the contest to lead the Conservatives will become the leader of the party with the largest number of MPs in Parliament. Rishi Sunak is now the leader of the party with the largest number of MPs in Parliament.
The King will therefore ask them to form a government, becoming the UK's next prime minister in the process. The King will therefore ask him to form a government, becoming the UK's next prime minister in the process.
Who could replace Liz Truss as prime minister?Who could replace Liz Truss as prime minister?
Could there be an early election?Could there be an early election?
How was Ms Truss chosen?How was Ms Truss chosen?
The summer leadership contest, which Ms Truss won, was held over three months.The summer leadership contest, which Ms Truss won, was held over three months.
Candidates were only able to enter the race if they had the backing of at least 20 Tory MPs.Candidates were only able to enter the race if they had the backing of at least 20 Tory MPs.
Eight contenders emerged - including Ms Truss.Eight contenders emerged - including Ms Truss.
In the contest's first stage, Tory MPs chose two candidates to go forward to a vote of the wider membership of the party.In the contest's first stage, Tory MPs chose two candidates to go forward to a vote of the wider membership of the party.
To do this, the Tory party's MPs whittled down the field with a series of votes.To do this, the Tory party's MPs whittled down the field with a series of votes.
Anyone who received fewer than 30 votes or came last in each round was eliminated. The process continued until the two final candidates - Ms Truss and former chancellor Rishi Sunak - remained.Anyone who received fewer than 30 votes or came last in each round was eliminated. The process continued until the two final candidates - Ms Truss and former chancellor Rishi Sunak - remained.
In stage two, Conservative Party members chose the winner in a postal and online vote lasting several weeks.In stage two, Conservative Party members chose the winner in a postal and online vote lasting several weeks.
When the result was announced on 5 September, Ms Truss won 81,326 votes among party members, compared with 60,399 for Mr Sunak.When the result was announced on 5 September, Ms Truss won 81,326 votes among party members, compared with 60,399 for Mr Sunak.
Will there be a general election?Will there be a general election?
There isn't automatically a general election when a new prime minister is appointed.There isn't automatically a general election when a new prime minister is appointed.
If the new prime minister decides not to call an early election, the next one does not have to be held until January 2025 at the latest. If Mr Sunak decides not to call an early election, the next one does not have to be held until January 2025 at the latest.
Could there be an early election?Could there be an early election?