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Tory leadership contest: Rule change proposed to limit candidates Tory leadership contest: Rule change agreed to limit candidates
(32 minutes later)
Senior backbench Conservative MPs have recommended that the party change its leadership contest rules to limit the number of candidates. The Conservatives have agreed changes designed to speed up the contest to succeed Theresa May as leader.
The 1922 Committee has suggested increasing the number of MP nominations needed from two to eight. The party board has agreed to proposals from the backbench 1922 Committee requiring any MP who wants to stand to be backed by eight colleagues.
Candidates will then need to win 5% of votes (16 MPs) in the first ballot and 10% (32 MPs) in the second. It has also set thresholds for how many votes candidates will need to reach the next round of the contest.
The changes - proposed amid criticism about the high number standing so far - will be considered by the party later. Eleven MPs are still in the race, after junior ministers James Cleverly and Kit Malthouse withdrew.
One member of the 1922's executive told BBC political correspondent Chris Mason that a decision would be made at about 17:00 BST on Tuesday. The deadline for contenders to put their names forward is the week commencing 10 June.
'Shambles' Under the previous rules, all of them would have needed only two MPs supporting them.
The deadline for contenders to put their names forward is the week commencing 10 June and under the current rules, all of them must have at least two MPs supporting them. But the new rules raise that bar, and mean candidates will need to win 5% of votes (16 MPs) in the first ballot and 10% (32 MPs) in the second to proceed.
The changes were proposed amid criticism about the high number standing so far.
'Highly unlikely'
Sam Gyimah, the only candidate to be proposing another Brexit referendum, said the timing of the changes was "slightly disappointing", given that people had put themselves forward on the basis of a system that had been in place for many years.
But he told the BBC that he intended to continue with his campaign.
After nominations close, all 313 Conservative MPs will vote for their preferred candidate in a series of polls that will whittle down the contenders one by one until only two are left.After nominations close, all 313 Conservative MPs will vote for their preferred candidate in a series of polls that will whittle down the contenders one by one until only two are left.
The wider Tory membership of 124,000 will then vote on the final two. The wider Tory membership of 124,000 will then vote on the final two in a process to be overseen by the Conservative Party board, its national governing body.
There are 11 candidates currently standing after James Cleverly became the first to pull out of the race and Kit Malthouse also withdrew. Mr Cleverly and Mr Malthouse, both of whom were considered outsiders, dropped out on Tuesday.
The size of the field has prompted calls for rule changes, with Former Chancellor Ken Clarke calling the contest a "shambles". Mr Cleverly said it had "become clear" it was "highly unlikely" he would progress to the final two, while Mr Malthouse said "there was an appetite for the contest to be over as soon as possible" and he was "realistic" about his chances of success.
Theresa May stands down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday - she will remain PM until a successor is named at the end of July. The size of the field has prompted criticism across the party, with former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith likening it to the Charge of the Light Brigade, and former Chancellor Ken Clarke calling the situation a "shambles".
Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said on Monday that some should consider pulling out because the party needed to find a new leader fast.
Theresa May stands down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday - she will remain PM until a successor is named.
Who will replace Theresa May?Who will replace Theresa May?
The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister.The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister.