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Boris Johnson wins key backers after wooing Tories with campaign video Boris Johnson wins key backers after wooing Tories with campaign video
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson pulled ahead of his closest rivals Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove on Monday with a slew of endorsements from prominent party moderates and Brexiteers, as outsider candidates warned against a “stitch-up” which could see them barred from the ballot of MPs. Boris Johnson has pulled ahead of his closest Tory leadership rivals with a slew of endorsements from prominent party moderates and Brexiters as outsider candidates warned against a “stitch-up” barring them from the ballot.
Johnson, who has kept a low profile in the contest so far, launched his Conservative leadership campaign in earnest with a social media video highlighting his campaigning credentials. Johnson, who has kept a low profile in the contest so far, launched his campaign in earnest with a video posted on social media highlighting his credentials.
His team then released timed endorsements throughout the day from MPs across the party’s spectrum, including the Brexit minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, and Simon Hart, the Tory MP who coordinates the moderate Brexit Delivery Group of Tory MPs. His team then released endorsements throughout the day from MPs across the party’s spectrum, including the Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Simon Hart, who coordinates the moderate Brexit Delivery Group.
Concern is growing among some Conservative MPs that a change in the rules could lead to a coronation of Johnson before some of the lesser known candidates have gained momentum. Concern is growing among some Conservative MPs that a change in the rules could lead to a coronation of Johnson before some of the lesser-known candidates have had a chance to gain momentum.
The former foreign secretary is among 13 candidates in the race, a list that could grow on Tuesday: supporters of the defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, say she will make a decision about running after an evening conference call with grassroots activists. There are 13 declared candidates and the list could grow on Tuesday. Supporters of the defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, say she will make a decision about running after an evening conference call with grassroots activists.
The 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, which will run the contest, will hold an executive meeting on Tuesday as calls grow for changes to party rules to reduce the size of the field. The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, who suggested changes were needed to stop the contest dragging on, compared the race to the Grand National. The 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, which will run the contest, will hold an executive meeting on Tuesday as calls grow for changes to the rules to reduce the size of the field. The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, compared the race to the Grand National and suggested changes were needed to prevent the contest from dragging on.
A Conservative leadership contest has two stages.A Conservative leadership contest has two stages.
First, MPs vote for their choice from the nominated candidates. In each round of voting, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the contest. MPs vote again, until there are only two challengers remaining. This usually takes place over several days, and candidates often withdraw from the process if they see they have no chance of winning.First, MPs vote for their choice from the nominated candidates. In each round of voting, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the contest. MPs vote again, until there are only two challengers remaining. This usually takes place over several days, and candidates often withdraw from the process if they see they have no chance of winning.
The second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose one of the two candidates, meaning around 120,000 people will choose the UK's next prime minister.The second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose one of the two candidates, meaning around 120,000 people will choose the UK's next prime minister.
Theresa May will formally resign on 7 June, and nominations to be leader are expected to close the following week. The contest should be finished by the end of July.Theresa May will formally resign on 7 June, and nominations to be leader are expected to close the following week. The contest should be finished by the end of July.
“If you already know it’s going to be a bit of a struggle to get over the first fence let alone Becher’s Brook ahead, then maybe you should pull up,” he said in a speech at Policy Exchange on Monday. “There is no embarrassment in that.” “If you already know it’s going to be a bit of a struggle to get over the first fence, let alone Becher’s Brook ahead, then maybe you should pull up,” he said in a speech at Policy Exchange on Monday. “There is no embarrassment in that.”
Several of the committee’s executive members have suggested that candidates should be required to have the support of at least 12 MPs before they can be on the ballot. Several of the committee’s executive members have suggested candidates should be required to have the support of at least 12 MPs before they can be on the ballot. Such a cut-off would eliminate a significant number of the candidates: Mark Harper, Rory Stewart, Esther McVey, James Cleverly, Andrea Leadsom, Kit Malthouse and Sam Gyimah.
Such a cut-off would eliminate a significant number of the candidates: Mark Harper, Rory Stewart, Esther McVey, James Cleverly, Andrea Leadsom, Kit Malthouse and Sam Gyimah.
Cleverly, a Brexit minister who is running a campaign as a new generation candidate, said the Conservative membership needed to be given “the chance to be gutsy” and warned against “rushing” the contest.Cleverly, a Brexit minister who is running a campaign as a new generation candidate, said the Conservative membership needed to be given “the chance to be gutsy” and warned against “rushing” the contest.
“This is a real opportunity for us to properly test ideas and people and we are looking for somebody who will not only deliver Brexit but be leader of the party for years into the future and has to reach out to a lot of voters,” he said. “This is a real opportunity for us to properly test ideas and people and we are looking for somebody who will not only deliver Brexit but be leader of the party for years into the future and has to reach out to a lot of voters,” he said. “We need to win the next general election and I think rushing it could be counterproductive. Investing maybe an extra five days in the process to make sure we get it right for the next five years is time well spent.”
“We need to win the next general election and I think rushing it could be counterproductive. Investing maybe an extra five days in the process to make sure we get it right for the next five years is time well spent.” One supporter of an outsider candidate said they believed some on the 1922 Committee were trying to rig the rules in favour of Johnson, arguing it was highly unfair on some hopefuls to change the rules before any hustings had taken place to let them demonstrate their potential. But one of the leading candidates said it made sense to knock out the “minnows” in the race and concentrate on those who had a chance of winning.
One supporter of an outsider candidate said they believed some on the 1922 Committee were trying to rig the rules in favour of Johnson, arguing it was highly unfair on some hopefuls to change the rules before any hustings had taken place to let them demonstrate their potential. Supporters of Johnson increasingly believe the race is likely to head for a “psychodrama” of a run-off between their candidate and Michael Gove, who knocked him out of the race in 2016. However, those around Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid and Matt Hancock all insist they are in with a chance of prevailing, with about 150 Conservative MPs still to say who they are backing.
However, one of the leading candidates said it made sense to knock out the “minnows” in the race and concentrate on those who had a chance of winning. In Johnson’s video, released on Monday morning, he meets voters and promises one former Conservative voter that he will take Britain out of the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal.
Supporters of Johnson increasingly believe the race is likely to head for a “psychodrama” of a run-off between their candidate and Michael Gove, who knocked him out of the race in 2016. The video expresses support for increased education funding and police numbers and shows Johnson agreeing with a voter on the need for more stop and search.
However, those around Hunt, Raab, Sajid Javid and Matt Hancock all still insist they are in with a chance of coming through the middle, with about 150 Conservative MPs still to declare who they are backing. The launch was not entirely without a hitch. Johnson was criticised for claiming that crime in London went down 20% while he was mayor. The Liberal Democrats pointed to official government figures suggesting police-recorded crime in London fell by 15% from 2007-08 to 2015-16. Ed Davey, a Lib Dem leadership candidate, said: “For Johnson to kick off his leadership campaign with a lie is at least very on-brand.”
In Johnson’s video released on Monday morning, he meets voters on the campaign trail and promises a former Conservative voter that he will take Britain out of the European Union on 31 October - deal or no deal.
The video expresses support for increased education funding and police numbers and shows him agreeing with voters on the need for more stop and search.
According to Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance, 'misconduct in public office' is committed when a public officer wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself, to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder, without reasonable excuse or justification.
The origin of the offence dates back to the 13th century, and it can carry a punishment of life imprisonment. The CPS cites the following examples of behaviour that have in the past fallen within the offence:
wilful excesses of official authority
'malicious' exercises of official authority
wilful neglect of a public duty
intentional infliction of bodily harm, imprisonment, or other injury upon a person
frauds and deceits
A 2016 Law Commission report into the application of the offence found several problems with it, including that 'public office' lacks clear definition yet is a critical element of the offence, and that an 'abuse of the public’s trust' is also a crucial component, but is so legally vague that it is difficult for investigators, prosecutors and juries to apply. 
The launch was not entirely without hitch, however. Johnson was immediately criticised for claiming that crime in London went down 20% while he was mayor. The Liberal Democrats pointed to official government figures suggesting that police-recorded crime in London had fallen by 15% from 2007-08 to 2015-16.
Ed Davey, a Lib Dem leadership candidate, said: “For Johnson to kick off his leadership campaign with a lie is at least very on-brand.”
Liz Truss, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, who had been considering a run at the leadership herself, was the first of the current cabinet to endorse Johnson over the weekend.Liz Truss, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, who had been considering a run at the leadership herself, was the first of the current cabinet to endorse Johnson over the weekend.
However, it is believed unlikely that Johnson will secure the backing of the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd – a joint ticket that had been dubbed “Bamber” – because of Rudd’s discomfort with serving in a cabinet that could pursue a no-deal Brexit. It is believed unlikely that Johnson will secure the backing of the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd – a joint ticket that had been nicknamed “Bamber” – because of Rudd’s discomfort at serving in a cabinet that could pursue a no-deal Brexit.
Other prominent names backing Johnson include the chair of the hard-Brexit European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former defence secretary Gavin Williamson and backbencher Zac Goldsmith. Other prominent names backing Johnson include the chair of the European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former defence secretary Gavin Williamson and the backbencher Zac Goldsmith.
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
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