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Tory leadership: Leadsom sets out vision as Tory MPs vote Tory leadership: Leadsom says CV criticism is 'ridiculous'
(35 minutes later)
Andrea Leadsom has vowed to make Britain "the greatest nation on earth" as Tory MPs cast their ballots in the party's leadership contest. Conservative leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom has dismissed "ridiculous" criticism of her pre-politics career, saying her "incredibly varied" CV is "all absolutely true".
Energy minister Mrs Leadsom is taking on Home Secretary Theresa May - the current frontrunner - and Justice Secretary Michael Gove. The energy minister rejected claims she had embellished details of her 25-year career in finance.
She also said she was "disappointed" at attempts by opponents to block her from the final ballot.
"I just want an honourable campaign," she told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg.
Mrs Leadsom is up against Home Secretary Theresa May and Justice Secretary Michael Gove, with the result on 9 September.
One of them will be forced to drop out when the result is announced later, with the remaining two to go forward to a vote of the membership.One of them will be forced to drop out when the result is announced later, with the remaining two to go forward to a vote of the membership.
The outcome is due on 9 September.
The winner will become Britain's next prime minister.The winner will become Britain's next prime minister.
Mrs Leadsom, who was the least well-known of the contenders before the contest started, grabbed attention during the EU referendum, when she was one of the leading Leave campaigners. Mrs Leadsom's team has published a summary of her CV, after it was claimed - including by a former colleague - that her previous jobs were not as she had described them.
Setting out her vision for the country in a speech, she said: "I want to spread prosperity to every corner of our country. I want to help create more jobs, because we need to hear and heed those millions of our fellow citizens who feel and fear that their country's leaders are not worrying about them enough." "I have not changed my CV," she told the BBC as MPs voted in their final ballot of the leadership contest.
The leadership ballot takes place between 09:00 and 16:00 BST, with the results to be announced shortly afterwards. Responding to some of the questions raised, she said she had been managing director - not marketing director - of a start-up fund management company and that she had been "very clear" on what a separate job as a senior investment officer had involved, adding that she was "not a funds manager".
A growing group of Conservative MPs are calling for the contest to be accelerated with a result before 9 September. There have been claims of underhand tactics in the Tory leadership contest, after it emerged that Justice Secretary Michael Gove's campaign manager had appealed to Mrs May's supporters to unite in an effort to block Mrs Leadsom's chances of getting on to the final ballot.
Former Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps has written to MPs seeking their backing for a shortened contest, saying it was a "matter of concern for the country". He also plans a petition.
On Wednesday it emerged that Justice Secretary Michael Gove's campaign manager had appealed to Mrs May's supporters to unite in an effort to block Mrs Leadsom's chances of getting on to the final ballot.
Nick Boles sent a text message to a number of MPs who support Mrs May, urging them to switch sides and back Mr Gove.Nick Boles sent a text message to a number of MPs who support Mrs May, urging them to switch sides and back Mr Gove.
He said that although he thought it "overwhelmingly likely" the home secretary would win the contest, he was "seriously frightened about the risk" of Mrs Leadsom ending up in the run-off.He said that although he thought it "overwhelmingly likely" the home secretary would win the contest, he was "seriously frightened about the risk" of Mrs Leadsom ending up in the run-off.
"What if Theresa stumbles? Are we really confident that the membership won't vote for a fresh face who shares their attitudes about much of modern life, like they did with IDS?" he wrote, referring to Iain Duncan Smith's election as Conservative leader in 2001."What if Theresa stumbles? Are we really confident that the membership won't vote for a fresh face who shares their attitudes about much of modern life, like they did with IDS?" he wrote, referring to Iain Duncan Smith's election as Conservative leader in 2001.
Mr Gove was challenged over the text at a Tory election hustings, and Mr Boles later issued an apology and said Mr Gove had been unaware of the plot. He later issued an apology and said Mr Gove had been unaware of the plot.
"He did not know about it let alone authorise it. And it does not reflect his views," he tweeted. Mrs Leadsom said: "I am really not interested in other people's tactics, or whatever.
"I just want an honourable campaign."
She said Mr Boles's text message did not bother her, because it was "not honourable", adding: "One of the things I would hope to do as prime minister is to change that from the top by setting an example."
Setting out her vision for the country in a speech earlier, Mrs Leadsom said she wanted to "spread prosperity to every corner of our country".
The leadership ballot takes place between 09:00 and 16:00 BST, with the results to be announced shortly afterwards.
A growing group of Conservative MPs are calling for the contest to be accelerated with a result before 9 September.
AnalysisAnalysis
By John Pienaar, deputy political editorBy John Pienaar, deputy political editor
By tonight, there'll be two contenders left.By tonight, there'll be two contenders left.
Theresa May's the bookies' favourite. She's been called a "bloody difficult woman" but also good at her job. That's an insult she can live with, but they'll likely get harsher.Theresa May's the bookies' favourite. She's been called a "bloody difficult woman" but also good at her job. That's an insult she can live with, but they'll likely get harsher.
Michael Gove's hindered by his new-found notoriety as the best-mannered assassin at Westminster, after backing, then burying, Boris Johnson's dreams.Michael Gove's hindered by his new-found notoriety as the best-mannered assassin at Westminster, after backing, then burying, Boris Johnson's dreams.
Last night, it emerged Mr Gove's campaign manager had appealed - unsubtly - to Theresa May's supporters to unite in an effort to kill off his fellow EU Leave campaigner Andrea Leadsom's chances. He later apologised.Last night, it emerged Mr Gove's campaign manager had appealed - unsubtly - to Theresa May's supporters to unite in an effort to kill off his fellow EU Leave campaigner Andrea Leadsom's chances. He later apologised.
Devoid of top-level political experience, she's already having to overcome doubts about her claim to have been a financial high-flyer.Devoid of top-level political experience, she's already having to overcome doubts about her claim to have been a financial high-flyer.
A former colleague at investment firm Invesco Perpetual, Robert Stephens, has said "she didn't manage any teams, large or small and certainly did not manage any funds."A former colleague at investment firm Invesco Perpetual, Robert Stephens, has said "she didn't manage any teams, large or small and certainly did not manage any funds."
That was after a friendly MP, Bernard Jenkin, spoke of her history managing "hundreds of people and billions of pounds".That was after a friendly MP, Bernard Jenkin, spoke of her history managing "hundreds of people and billions of pounds".
A CV listing the post Financial Institutions Director at Barclays later added the word "deputy".A CV listing the post Financial Institutions Director at Barclays later added the word "deputy".
An innocent error, according to Team Leadsom - and the MP who'd boasted of her high-powered background had merely been "bigging her up".An innocent error, according to Team Leadsom - and the MP who'd boasted of her high-powered background had merely been "bigging her up".
Maybe so, but the contest will be merciless. The fight for the top job in politics always is.Maybe so, but the contest will be merciless. The fight for the top job in politics always is.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith - who is supporting Mrs Leadsom - warned colleagues against spending "the whole time stabbing each other in the back".Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith - who is supporting Mrs Leadsom - warned colleagues against spending "the whole time stabbing each other in the back".
At the same hustings event, Mrs Leadsom restated that she would not publish her tax return - unlike Mrs May and Mr Gove - unless she made the final two, saying she did not want to set a "precedent". At a hustings on Wednesday night, Mrs Leadsom restated that she would not publish her tax return - unlike Mrs May and Mr Gove - unless she made the final two, saying she did not want to set a "precedent".
But Mrs Leadsom told MPs they could come to see a summary of her tax affairs personally if they wanted to.But Mrs Leadsom told MPs they could come to see a summary of her tax affairs personally if they wanted to.
'No deals'
It comes after the leadership hopeful published details of her CV, following accusations from her opponents that she had exaggerated her previous roles in financial services.
But defence minister Penny Mordaunt, one of Mrs Leadsom's backers, claimed there was a "concerted effort" being made to rubbish her "stellar" pre-parliamentary career.
Despite Mrs May's clear lead in Tuesday's first round vote - she got 165 votes of 329 cast - the home secretary has said she does not want the contest to be a "coronation".Despite Mrs May's clear lead in Tuesday's first round vote - she got 165 votes of 329 cast - the home secretary has said she does not want the contest to be a "coronation".
"The party and the country deserve an open, honest, robust debate - and the next leader needs to have won a mandate to lead. So there should be no deals, no tactical voting, and no coronation," she said.
Given the margin of Mrs May's lead, she is almost certain to feature on the two-person ballot to be put to the about 150,000 Conservative members.
The leadership contest has been sparked by David Cameron's decision to step down as leader and prime minister after the UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU.The leadership contest has been sparked by David Cameron's decision to step down as leader and prime minister after the UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU.