Battle for No10 LIVE: Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt in fresh Tory leadership race following Liz Truss’s resignation after 44 days in Downing Street

• MPs in fresh fight for Number 10 after Liz Truss’s shambolic 44 days in power 
• Leadership hopefuls have until Monday to get the backing of 100 other MPs
• Mordaunt and Sunak are set to clash with Johnson who is seeking a shock return
• The new leader WILL be in place next Friday the Conservative Party has insisted
• But if only one MP makes the 100-vote threshold, they’ll be crowned the new PM
• Exclusive: Awake all night and sending texts to friends at 4am: How Liz Truss’s last day in No. 10 unfolded as her fate was sealed 
• Read more MailOnline coverage of the new race to be Prime Minister, here 

Welcome to the MailOnline’s live blog following all the twists and turns in the race for the next Prime Minister.

The battle for Downing Street is back in full swing today with Boris Johnson pushing for a ‘dream ticket’ comeback with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt frantically wooing MPs.

The trio look best-placed to hit the high threshold of 100 nominations from politicians required to feature on the Tory leadership ballot – although it is possible only one or two will make the numbers by the Monday afternoon deadline.

Backers of the ex-PM are clamouring for a shock return just six weeks after he was ousted from power amid a flood of ministerial resignations over Partygate and sleaze. Some have speculated that as many as 140 out of the 357 Conservative MPs could line up behind him – making him all-but unstoppable.

However, critics believe his fans are noisy rather than numerous, predicting he will fall short of 100. According to the ConservativeHome tally, Mr Sunak is the current front runner with 35 openly declared, while Mr Johnson has 19 and Ms Mordaunt 11.

Mr Johnson is believed to be flying back early from his holiday in the Dominican Republic as he ‘takes soundings’ on whether to run to take over after the humiliating resignation of Liz Truss.

But in a blow, Tory MP and former ally Crispin Blunt warned that Mr Johnson has ‘personality weaknesses’ alongside an ‘astonishing set of skills’. ‘I don’t think we can go back there for the next two years,’ the former minister told Sky News.

There are also concerns that some centrist MPs could resign the Tory whip or even defect in protest as they regard him as unacceptable to lead. That could open the door for Keir Starmer to force a snap election and trigger a Conservative wipeout.

A staggering poll today shows the Tories 39 points behind Labour, at their lowest ever rating.

Host commentator

Boris Johnson should not be looking to make a political comeback because ‘he has had his chance’ as Prime Minister, a former minister has said. 

Sir David Lidington, who served as a Cabinet Office minister under former PM Theresa May, said Mr Johnson’s time in office ended with 60 ministers and parliamentary private secretaries saying‘they did not feel they could remain in his government and that he was not fit to lead an effective administration’. 

Sir David told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We do need competence now at a time of great economic challenge for this country. 

‘Boris Johnson has always been somebody who has focused on the big picture, not on detail. 

‘He is not really interested in the detail of governing and nor when he was Prime Minister did he appoint a couple of ministers with delegated authority on his behalf to get things done, instead we had bunches of aides in Number 10 busy briefing the media and shouting at each other most of the time.’ 

Sir David added: ‘Even on top of the fact that he is still being investigated by Parliament on allegations of deliberately lying to MPs, I think he has had his chance and the Conservative parliamentary party concluded just a few months ago this could not go on and it would not be right for him to continue as prime minister – that, after all, is why he resigned.’ 

Keir Stamer and the Labour Party now have a massive 39-point lead over the Tories, according to a new survey by People Polling released today.  

The survey puts Labour on 53 per cent and the Tories on 14 per cent – fractionally in front of the Liberal Democrats, who have 11 per cent. 

Meanwhile, the Greens have six per cent and the SNP has five per cent. 

Leading pollster Matt Goodwin said Tories’ 14 per cent was the party’s lowest level of support in ‘British polling history’.   

NEW. *The Conservative Party falls to the lowest level of support in British polling history*

Labour 53%
Conservatives 14%
Lib Dems 11%@PeoplePolling Oct 20

NEW: Westminster Voting Intention poll (20 Oct):

🔴 LAB: 53% (= from 12 Oct)
🔵 CON: 14% (-5)
🟠 LDM: 11% (+3)
🟢 GRN: 6% (=)
🟡 SNP: 5% (-1)

Full tables: https://t.co/ZIdyZ4hK99

Lord O’Donnell this morning insisted the next Prime Minster must be in Downing Street by ‘Monday or Tuesday’ to avoid a future financial disaster.   

The UK’s former most senior civil servant believed the Conservative leader had to be elected to power ‘very, very quickly’ in a bid to dodge a spike to interest rates the week after.  

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to meet on November 3 when it will make the latest decision on interest rates – which will come days after the planned unveiling of the Tory’s fiscal plan on October 31. 

Lord O’Donnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I think everyone will be hoping that the leadership election is finished very, very quickly because you would like to stick with the October 31 date.  

‘Obviously the new prime minister will want to talk to whoever ends up being their chancellor and get this fix out because as you say, Monetary Policy Committee on the 3rd of November, if there is still uncertainty then you can see them going further on interest rates and that is not ideal in any circumstance.  

‘So, I think everyone will be trying to say please, please, can we get this done quickly and what the markets will look at as well is not just if it is done quickly but is it done in a way that delivers a leader that can then lead the party and have a majority in the House of Commons.’ 

The Conservative Party has launched a fresh leadership race after the resignation of Liz Truss on Thursday following a shambolic 44 days in power. Here you will find all the latest news and developments in the race for the next Prime Minister, with Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson all among the frontrunners. 

Source: Read Full Article