Liz Truss resigns as PM after just 45 days in Downing Street
Boris Johnson’s hopes of a return to No 10 were given a boost after defence secretary Ben Wallace announced he was “leaning towards” backing him as Liz Truss’s replacement in No 10 – as Penny Mordaunt became the first to officially enter the leadership race.
Two other Cabinet ministers – Jacob Rees-Mogg and Simon Clarke – are among dozens of Tory MPs who have publicly supported Mr Johnson’s return to Downing Street three months after he resigned in a mire of scandal.
The former PM was believed to be flying home from a Caribbean holiday and “taking soundings” about a leadership bid – despite facing a by-election if a Commons investigation concludes he lied over the Partygate scandal.
Although he has less support than Rishi Sunak, Mr Johnson was claimed to be pressing his former chancellor to “get back together”, and privately urging Tory MPs to back him as the only candidate able to save them from electoral wipeout.
Nominations among Tory MPs opened at lunchtime, and 100 votes are needed by Monday for a candidate to secure a place on the first ballot.
Boris Johnson return would alarm markets, former Bank of England chief warns
The return of Boris Johnson would worry financial markets, a former Bank of England deputy governor has warned.
Speaking as borrowing costs begin to rise while the prospect loomed larger, Charlie Bean said: “There might be some concern about whether this was going to be a stable government again, given the instability that we had at the end of Johnson’s term as prime minister.
“I think market participants might be concerned that, even if the fiscal statement coming up imminently goes off ok, there might be issues further down the road.”
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the full report:
Penny Mordaunt becomes first to officially enter Tory leadership race
Penny Mordaunt has confirmed that she is running to replace Liz Truss as prime minister.
“I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest,” said the former minister, who came third in the Tory leadership contest three months ago.
Backing Truss was a ‘mistake’, says Tory MP now supporting Sunak
Tory MP Nigel Mills said it was a “mistake” for him not to back Rishi Sunak during the summer’s leadership contest, as he said the ex-chancellor was “clearly the prime minister we need to restore stability and tackle the many serious challenges facing the country”.
Suspension of Truss aide ended after investigation
The suspension of one of Liz Truss’s senior aides has ended after an investigation into a hostile briefing against Sajid Javid, Downing Street has said.
Jason Stein had been suspended pending a probe by the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team into a briefing by a No 10 source who described former cabinet minister Mr Javid as “s***”.
“The investigation has concluded and the suspension has ended,” a No 10 press secretary said.
Voters prefer Sunak to Johnson and Mordaunt – but Starmer is ‘best PM’ by large stretch, polling finds
Rishi Sunak is the public’s preferred candidate were he to end up on a ballot against either Boris Johnson or Penny Mordaunt, new polling suggests.
In a run-off with his former boss, the ex-chancellor is the favourite by 44 to 31 per cent. Mr Sunak also wins in a head-to-head with the leader of the Commons by 45 to 23 per cent, Opinium found in their overnight survey.
However, polling by the same firm earlier this week found that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer beats Mr Johnson on the question of who would be the best prime minister by 43 to 30 per cent, and Mr Sunak by the same margin, as well as Ms Mordaunt by 42 to 21 per cent.
Carer’s Leave Bill passes second reading
A new Bill giving unpaid carers up to one week of unpaid leave has passed its second reading in the Commons.
MP Wendy Chamberlain, sponsor of the Carer’s Leave Bill said: “This is a landmark day for carers around the UK, marking the first step to secure employment rights designed to help people care and work.
“Unpaid carers are the backbone of society and we must do all we can to support them.”
The legislation will be scrutinised at committee stage next.
Nominations for next PM open, Tory party chair says
Tory party chair Jake Berry announced at midday that nominations were open in the race to replace Liz Truss.
Conservative MPs will be able to sumbit their choices until 2pm on Monday, after which point they will vote on any candidates who receive more than 100 nominations, with the first ballot concluding at 5:30pm the same day.
Watch: Choice is revolving door of chaos or Labour stability, says Starmer
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has vowed he would set out a clear plan with costings to bring in stability rather than continue with the Conservatives’ “revolving door with more chaos” as the Tories “experimented” with leaders.
“The contrast really is this: carry on with this utter chaos or have stability under a Labour government,” he said.
Sunak ‘won all exchanges’ during summer hustings against Truss, says ex-minister
Former environment secretary George Eustice, who has publicly backed Rishi Sunak for the leadership, has said he believed the ex-chancellor “won in all of the exchanges that took place in hustings” against Liz Truss.
“As far as I can see, he had the biggest base of support within the parliamentary party, and we really need someone now who can unite the party, pull it together, but crucially, who’s got the judgment to be a good prime minister to get those key decisions right, so that we can deal with some of the great challenges that the world faces,” he said.
Second cabinet minister backs Johnson
Levelling-Up secretary Simon Clarke has become the second cabinet minister to back Boris Johnson.
“Teesside has had difficult times and is now levelling up because of @BorisJohnson,” he tweeted.
The comeback will be “greater than the setback”, he declared.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace says he is “leaning towards” Mr Johnson as his preferred candidate.
