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| Rishi Sunak has enough backers to run, supporters say | Rishi Sunak has enough backers to run, supporters say |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Rishi Sunak has secured the 100 MP nominations needed to enter the race to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister, his campaign says. | Rishi Sunak has secured the 100 MP nominations needed to enter the race to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister, his campaign says. |
| The former chancellor has yet to announce whether he will launch a fresh bid for the top job after losing to Liz Truss over the summer. | The former chancellor has yet to announce whether he will launch a fresh bid for the top job after losing to Liz Truss over the summer. |
| Boris Johnson is flying back to the UK, as supporters rally behind a potential comeback by the ex-prime minister. | Boris Johnson is flying back to the UK, as supporters rally behind a potential comeback by the ex-prime minister. |
| Penny Mordaunt is the only contender to have officially launched a campaign. | Penny Mordaunt is the only contender to have officially launched a campaign. |
| The hopefuls have until 14:00 BST on Monday to find 100 backers. If any candidate reaches 158 nominations the race will be reduced to two candidates, as there will not be enough MPs left to support a third candidate. | |
| It will then go to an online ballot of the Conservative party membership, with the result to be announced on Friday. | |
| But, if Conservative MPs choose a single candidate, we could have a new prime minister by Monday afternoon. | |
| Follow Live: Johnson flies back to UK as Sunak leads PM race | Follow Live: Johnson flies back to UK as Sunak leads PM race |
| Who are Tory MPs backing to be next PM? | Who are Tory MPs backing to be next PM? |
| Tory leadership: How secure is the online vote? | Tory leadership: How secure is the online vote? |
| What's happened to Britain, global media ask | What's happened to Britain, global media ask |
| Polling suggests Mr Johnson - who was kicked out of office by his own MPs three months ago - would be favourite to win a members' vote. | Polling suggests Mr Johnson - who was kicked out of office by his own MPs three months ago - would be favourite to win a members' vote. |
| He has 44 declared backers so far, according to the running total being kept by the BBC, although other sources suggest it could be higher. | He has 44 declared backers so far, according to the running total being kept by the BBC, although other sources suggest it could be higher. |
| Mt Johnson is due to land back in the UK after a Caribbean holiday, when his supporters are hoping he will announce a campaign to return to Downing Street. | Mt Johnson is due to land back in the UK after a Caribbean holiday, when his supporters are hoping he will announce a campaign to return to Downing Street. |
| A close ally, Sir James Duddridge, said he had received a message from the former PM saying: "I'm flying back, Dudders. We are going to do this. I'm up for it." | A close ally, Sir James Duddridge, said he had received a message from the former PM saying: "I'm flying back, Dudders. We are going to do this. I'm up for it." |
| His supporters say he is the only contender to have the backing of the voting public after winning the 2019 general election. Mr Johnson still has a Parliamentary investigation hanging over him over whether he lied to MPs about Partygate. | |
| Mr Sunak has secured support from a number of senior colleagues, including former chancellor and health secretary Sajid Javid, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and former health secretary Matt Hancock. | Mr Sunak has secured support from a number of senior colleagues, including former chancellor and health secretary Sajid Javid, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and former health secretary Matt Hancock. |
| "It is abundantly clear that Rishi Sunak has what it takes to match the challenges we face - he is the right person to lead our party and take the country forward," Mr Javid said. | "It is abundantly clear that Rishi Sunak has what it takes to match the challenges we face - he is the right person to lead our party and take the country forward," Mr Javid said. |
| Another backer, Tobias Ellwood, said he was the 100th MP to endorse Mr Sunak, adding: "Time for centrist, stable, fiscally responsible government offering credible domestic and international leadership." | Another backer, Tobias Ellwood, said he was the 100th MP to endorse Mr Sunak, adding: "Time for centrist, stable, fiscally responsible government offering credible domestic and international leadership." |
| According to the BBC's running total of MPs who have gone on the record with support, Mr Sunak currently has 97 backers. | |
| House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who came third in the last leadership election, has 21 backers according to BBC research. More than half of the Parliamentary party has yet to say which way they will vote. | House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who came third in the last leadership election, has 21 backers according to BBC research. More than half of the Parliamentary party has yet to say which way they will vote. |
| Launching her campaign on Twitter on Friday, Ms Mordaunt said she would "unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next [general election]". | |
| Mordaunt backer Conservative MP Bob Seely said "I think we owe the country a collective responsibility to apologise" and said he believes Ms Mordaunt has the best chance of providing "unity and leadership" within the party. | Mordaunt backer Conservative MP Bob Seely said "I think we owe the country a collective responsibility to apologise" and said he believes Ms Mordaunt has the best chance of providing "unity and leadership" within the party. |
| Among those to have ruled themselves out of the race are Defence Secretary Ben Wallace - who has said he is "leaning" towards supporting Mr Johnson - and current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. | Among those to have ruled themselves out of the race are Defence Secretary Ben Wallace - who has said he is "leaning" towards supporting Mr Johnson - and current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. |