This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/05/conservative-mps-start-voting-in-leadership-contest
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Conservative MPs start voting in leadership contest | Conservative MPs start voting in leadership contest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Conservative MPs have started voting in the contest to decide who will be their next party leader and the country’s prime minister, with Theresa May a clear frontrunner among her parliamentary colleagues. | Conservative MPs have started voting in the contest to decide who will be their next party leader and the country’s prime minister, with Theresa May a clear frontrunner among her parliamentary colleagues. |
| The politicians can cast a vote between 11am and 6pm, with the candidate securing the least support – most likely to be Liam Fox – being knocked out on Tuesday evening when the results are announced. | The politicians can cast a vote between 11am and 6pm, with the candidate securing the least support – most likely to be Liam Fox – being knocked out on Tuesday evening when the results are announced. |
| Boris Johnson intensified the battle on Monday evening by throwing his weight behind Andrea Leadsom, who he said offered “the zap, the drive, and the determination” that is needed to lead the country. | Boris Johnson intensified the battle on Monday evening by throwing his weight behind Andrea Leadsom, who he said offered “the zap, the drive, and the determination” that is needed to lead the country. |
| The decision by the former London mayor to support the energy minister’s campaign is likely to draw more MPs to Leadsom, who is now the clear second favourite. | The decision by the former London mayor to support the energy minister’s campaign is likely to draw more MPs to Leadsom, who is now the clear second favourite. |
| “She has long championed the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. She has a better understanding of finance than almost anyone else in parliament. She has considerable experience of government. She is level-headed, kind, trustworthy, approachable and the possessor of a good sense of humour,” said Johnson. | “She has long championed the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. She has a better understanding of finance than almost anyone else in parliament. She has considerable experience of government. She is level-headed, kind, trustworthy, approachable and the possessor of a good sense of humour,” said Johnson. |
| The former London mayor’s decision to back Leadsom, after his own hopes were scuppered by the last-minute decision of Michael Gove to abandon him and run himself, was described as “revenge served cold” by one MP. | The former London mayor’s decision to back Leadsom, after his own hopes were scuppered by the last-minute decision of Michael Gove to abandon him and run himself, was described as “revenge served cold” by one MP. |
| The dramatic events have put May well in the lead in parliament, with the public backing of well over 100 MPs, including 10 cabinet ministers, followed by Leadsom, with just under 40 MPs, and then Michael Gove and Stephen Crabb with over 20. | The dramatic events have put May well in the lead in parliament, with the public backing of well over 100 MPs, including 10 cabinet ministers, followed by Leadsom, with just under 40 MPs, and then Michael Gove and Stephen Crabb with over 20. |
| The results will knock out the candidate with the least support, but others will then have until 9am on Wednesday to withdraw from the race if they believe that the first-round results are not strong enough to carry on. | The results will knock out the candidate with the least support, but others will then have until 9am on Wednesday to withdraw from the race if they believe that the first-round results are not strong enough to carry on. |
| A second round will be carried out on Thursday, and a third session – if necessary – next Tuesday, with the final two candidates being put forward to a vote by the party’s grassroots members. | A second round will be carried out on Thursday, and a third session – if necessary – next Tuesday, with the final two candidates being put forward to a vote by the party’s grassroots members. |
| On Monday night MPs in parliament were discussing who was most likely to come third between the justice secretary, Gove, and the work and pensions secretary, Crabb. Some were suggesting that Tuesday’s result could trigger tactical voting in the next round, as May supporters try to stop Leadsom from being put to the grassroots, after a ConservativeHome poll put the energy minister just ahead of the home secretary. | On Monday night MPs in parliament were discussing who was most likely to come third between the justice secretary, Gove, and the work and pensions secretary, Crabb. Some were suggesting that Tuesday’s result could trigger tactical voting in the next round, as May supporters try to stop Leadsom from being put to the grassroots, after a ConservativeHome poll put the energy minister just ahead of the home secretary. |
| Some worry about the backers that Leadsom has attracted from the right of the party – with arch Eurosceptics such as Bill Cash, John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin all lining up behind her. | Some worry about the backers that Leadsom has attracted from the right of the party – with arch Eurosceptics such as Bill Cash, John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin all lining up behind her. |
| Related: Would-be Tory leaders pose as champions of the poor – after six years of cuts | Patrick Butler | Related: Would-be Tory leaders pose as champions of the poor – after six years of cuts | Patrick Butler |
| It comes after May was forced on to the defensive over whether EU citizens would be able to remain in the UK, after Leadsom guaranteed the rights of more than 3 million migrants during a speech to launch her campaign. “We must give them certainty; they will not be bargaining chips in our negotiations,” she said. | It comes after May was forced on to the defensive over whether EU citizens would be able to remain in the UK, after Leadsom guaranteed the rights of more than 3 million migrants during a speech to launch her campaign. “We must give them certainty; they will not be bargaining chips in our negotiations,” she said. |
| Crabb and Gove have given similar assurances, as both sought to differentiate themselves from May. | Crabb and Gove have given similar assurances, as both sought to differentiate themselves from May. |
| The home secretary responded at the start of a private Tory party hustings in parliament on Monday night by saying the issue would be dealt with in Brexit negotiations. She said she wanted to provide guarantees, but talks would also have to focus on protecting the rights of millions of British people living abroad. | The home secretary responded at the start of a private Tory party hustings in parliament on Monday night by saying the issue would be dealt with in Brexit negotiations. She said she wanted to provide guarantees, but talks would also have to focus on protecting the rights of millions of British people living abroad. |
| May told her party’s MPs that she wanted to take the issue head-on after a controversial session in parliament in which the immigration minister, James Brokenshire, faced criticism from Labour MPs and his party’s own benches as he laid out the government position. | May told her party’s MPs that she wanted to take the issue head-on after a controversial session in parliament in which the immigration minister, James Brokenshire, faced criticism from Labour MPs and his party’s own benches as he laid out the government position. |
| The hustings were followed by another session by the 2020 group of MPs, focused on how the Conservatives can secure a majority, who were able to watch each of the candidates in half-hour slots. | The hustings were followed by another session by the 2020 group of MPs, focused on how the Conservatives can secure a majority, who were able to watch each of the candidates in half-hour slots. |
| There were also a number of Conservative MPs drinking in the House of Commons bars as many discussed how the leadership candidates had performed in the hustings. Some joked that Leadsom had lost them when she began to talk about “frontal lobes” and her “3 Bs – Brussels, banks and babies”. | There were also a number of Conservative MPs drinking in the House of Commons bars as many discussed how the leadership candidates had performed in the hustings. Some joked that Leadsom had lost them when she began to talk about “frontal lobes” and her “3 Bs – Brussels, banks and babies”. |
| The reference was to the attachment theory between parents and newborns and the impact on brain development – something she is passionate about. Many said Gove and Fox performed best but said May got the warmest reception and described Crabb as solid. | The reference was to the attachment theory between parents and newborns and the impact on brain development – something she is passionate about. Many said Gove and Fox performed best but said May got the warmest reception and described Crabb as solid. |
| Many also went to a karaoke session in parliament organised by the deputy leader of the house, Therese Coffey, where dozens of MPs sang a variety of songs including Mr Brightside, Mack the Knife and Summer Nights. | Many also went to a karaoke session in parliament organised by the deputy leader of the house, Therese Coffey, where dozens of MPs sang a variety of songs including Mr Brightside, Mack the Knife and Summer Nights. |
| All the leadership candidates turned up apart from Leadsom. Sources suggest Crabb sang a plea to MPs with “Don’t Stop Me Now”. | All the leadership candidates turned up apart from Leadsom. Sources suggest Crabb sang a plea to MPs with “Don’t Stop Me Now”. |