Who could replace Boris Johnson in the role of prime minister?
The shadow home secretary has called the Tory leadership race a “chaotic catwalk of contestants” as a growing number of MPs battle it out to replace Boris Johnson.
Yvette Cooper said they were all part of a “catalogue of failure” as she blasted 12 years of Conservative government.
It comes as the Tory leadership battle heats up, with Penny Mordaunt becoming the latest candidate to throw her hat into the ring on Sunday.
She joins eight other MPs who have put their names forward so far, including Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Nadhim Zahawi and Rishi Sunak.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, and Tom Tugendhat, the foreign affairs committee chair, are also running.
Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, is also widely expected to launch a leadership bid shortly, with MPs already signalling their support.
Brexit, tax cuts and transgender rights are among the issues the hopefuls have been setting out their positions on.
Mordaunt posts new video after Paralympian complains
Penny Mordaunt has now tweeted out her campaign video without the Paralympics clip:
Rishi Sunak ‘dirty dossier’?
The Conservative Party leadership race to succeed Boris Johnson has descended into acrimony, as MPs opposed to Rishi Sunak circulated a so-called “dirty dossier” designed to stop support building for his campaign.
The memo circulated on Tory WhatsApp group reportedly attacks the former chancellor personally, Adam Forrest reports:
Rishi Sunak ‘dirty dossier’ send around Tory WhatsApp groups
Attack memo circulated, as Johnson ally Zac Goldsmith condemns Sunak over environment
Two more Tory MPs back Shapps
Grant Shapps has tweeted out more MPs who are backing him:
Tory candidates tax plans branded ‘nuts’ by economic experts
Tax cutting has been branded “nuts” by top economic experts.
All the candidates to have entered the race bar Rishi Sunak have vowed to cut taxes in a bid to boost growth.
Responding to Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt’s plans to cut corporation tax to 15 per cent, Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “This is nuts. We’re talking £30bn odd. This is going to be one expensive leadership election.
“It’s not just nuts economics, it’s nuts politics. People in hospitals and schools are going to be overwhelmed by surging costs this autumn-winter. Saying, ‘Sorry we can’t help but we can cut corporate taxes by £30bn’, won’t last a week as a position. Labour won’t believe their luck.”
Paul Johnson, the head of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), said critics were “correct” to say cutting taxes does not “magically” boost growth.
The IFS expert warned that using the currently “tiny” fiscal headroom on tax cuts “almost certainly means big real terms cuts in public pay”.
He added: “An alternative of course is to borrow more. May be risky in highly inflationary environment.”
Starmer repeats call for election
Sir Keir Starmer has repeated his call for a general election.
“Britain needs a fresh start,” he said, sharing an article in which he makes the appeal:
GB paralympian asks to be removed from Mordaunt video
A Team GB paralympian has asked to be removed from Penny Mordaunt’s leadership bid video:
What are Tory leader candidates saying about Rwanda deportations?
Conservative leadership contender Jeremy Hunt said he would back an expansion of the government’s policy of sending asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda, Adam Forrest reports.
His Tory rivals Sajid Javid and Tom Tugendhat also vowed to push on with the plan to use the central African country to “offshore” migrants arriving by small boats.
Read on here:
Jeremy Hunt wants to expand Rwanda deportation plan
Top contender makes pitch to Tory right by saying he wants to ‘find other countries’ to accept migrants
Oscar Pistorius in Mordaunt’s leadership video…
Some are pointing out Oscar Pistorius gets a showing in Penny Mordaunt’s leadership bid video:
Work and pensions secretary backs Liz Truss
Meanwhile Therese Coffey said she would back Liz Truss to be the next Tory leader.
The work and pensions secretary tweeted this:
Ms Truss has not officially launched her leadership bid yet, with reports suggesting this could happen on Monday.
