this is bbc news. live from downing street where rishi sunak is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as the uk's prime minister. the former chancellor arrived a short time ago at his campaign headquarters. he has a commanding lead among conservative mps as they choose their next party leader. i think he has all the really good ideas on his site and i think you would be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. rival penny mordaunt is still well short of the 100 backers she needs to go forward to a vote. but her supporters insist she's not pulling out of the contest we are feeling supremely confident this morning. there is a lot of

support for a penny from colleagues. we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday. and last night borisjohnson put an end to days of speculation about a comeback when he dramatically pulled out of the race — saying it would not be �*the right thing to do�*. rishi sunak praised johnson for his achievements after he pulled out of the race nominations close at 2pm — that's when we should find out whether or not there has to be a ballot of conservative party members — or if one person will be moving straight into number ten. we'll be bringing you updates throughout the day. i'm lewis vaughan—jones — some other headlines. the us, britain and france condemn russia's claim that ukraine is preparing to use a radioactive "dirty bomb" on its own territory. disgraced former hollywood mogul — harvey weinstein — faces charges of rape and sexual assault in los angeles. opening statements in the case are expected to begin on monday.

and — david tennant makes a surprise appearance injodie whittaker�*s final doctor who story. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we could find out as early as this afternoon who's replacing liz truss as the uk's prime minister. tory mps have until 2pm to make their nominations for party leader and each candidate needs at least 100 backers. if only one achieves that, they'll be declared party leader today and walk through the famous black door as prime minister as soon as tomorrow. if more than one candidate hits the hundred mark, there'll be a ballot by mps later today followed by a vote of party members this week. two candidates have officially

declared that they are running, rishi sunak and penny mordaunt. so far, around 200 out of 357 tory mps have told the bbc who they'll be supporting. 174 of them are backing rishi sunak, and 26 penny mordaunt. when borisjohnson dropped out of the running last night, he claimed to have the backing of 102 mps — that support that will now shift to the two remaining candidates. former home secretary, priti patel has also announced she's backing rishi sunak, switching from borisjohnson. reporter: are you ready - for the leadership, mr sunak? he's the man who could, by the end of the day, be prime minister. rishi sunak�*s team say they're taking nothing for granted. he will continue to canvass tory mps until nominations close at lunchtime. borisjohnson�*s bid for a comeback crumbled when it became clear too

many of his own conservative mps were aghast at the idea he would return. in a statement last night, mrjohnson said... "i have sadly come to the conclusion this would simply not be the right thing to do. he left the westminster location where he had been holed up all weekend. his decision to quit the race was so swift, it caught his own backers by surprise. i was on a meeting with boris and the team not so long ago, within the past hour, and i've got to say that i was absolutely flabbergasted. it's just one of those occasions where you just don't believe it's really happening. however, you know — look, i'll say it like it is — it's time for grown—ups. i'm backing rishi. another prominentjohnson supporter, former vaccines minister nadhim zahawi, added... mr sunak�*s backers are hoping

more mps will follow. we must recognise the massive hurdle of regaining the trust of the british people. and getting the economy right, providing stability and clarity on people's pensions, on benefits, on mortgages, tackling inflation, getting those energy bills right. this is what rishi sunak does well. and this is why i'd encourage all colleagues to support him immediately. so this was a significant political victory for rishi sunak. he's seen off borisjohnson, the man who made him chancellor, but who he fell out with spectacularly over the summer and helped bring down. trying perhaps to bury the hatchet, mr sunak last night praised mrjohnson and said... the other candidate in the race, penny mordaunt, says she's still pressing ahead. despite being far behind in public endorsements, she believes many borisjohnson supporters are likely to switch to her. michael fabricant already has. he said...

her team said she was the unifying candidate who is most likely to keep the wings of the conservative party together, and the most likely candidate to hold onto the seats the conservative party gained in 2019. really, penny mordaunt is the one who i believe is the best leader for the party, who can build a team across the party and actually steer the ship of state in a steady way, away from the rocks and on a very steady course. but it will take a huge turnaround if she's to halt the momentum rishi sunak has built, which has put him within reach of downing street. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. correspondent nick eardley.

rishi sunak�*s team are saying they are taking nothing for granted, and penny modern�*s are saying they are not backing down. are we looking at a coronation?— a coronation? rishi sunak is almost at 5096 of the _ a coronation? rishi sunak is almost at 5096 of the parliamentary - a coronation? rishi sunak is almost at 5096 of the parliamentary party, | at 50% of the parliamentary party, he is picking up people who were backing borisjohnson and i think that penny mordaunt�*s team were hoping that they would hoover up boris johnson's backers hoping that they would hoover up borisjohnson�*s backers to get them to the 100 threshold, at the moment, thatis to the 100 threshold, at the moment, that isjust to the 100 threshold, at the moment, that is just not happening on our official tally of those who have said publicly what they want to do. rishi sunak�*s on 15a, penny mordaunt has only gone up one overnight to 26. at the moment it is looking very like rishi sunak could be prime minister, named prime minister, by the end of the day. however, chatting to team mordaunt over the past few minutes, they are still saying that she is in its to win it,

they think she is getting numbers, over the last few hours i have been told that she is within touching distance, although, itake told that she is within touching distance, although, i take that with a pinch of salt because there is always a desire to be seen to have some sort of momentum with these sorts of things. standing here this morning, i don't think there are many people at westminster who think anything other than rishi sunak is going to be the next prime minister unless penny modern can get over that line of 100, and take it to members conservative members that is over the rest of the week. if she were to do that, though, she would face the prospect of trying to overturn what the parliamentary party once, my hunch is that,... that is unlikely, we are probably going to see rishi sunak in a place where if he has not named prime minister he is very likely to win by the end of the day.—

the end of the day. what could be the end of the day. what could be the choreography _ the end of the day. what could be the choreography if _ the end of the day. what could be the choreography if that _ the end of the day. what could be the choreography if that is - the end of the day. what could be the choreography if that is the - the end of the day. what could be| the choreography if that is the way it goes? . the choreography if that is the way it noes? �* , ., the choreography if that is the way it noes? j ., the choreography if that is the way ituoes? j ., , ., it goes? , by two o'clock, we should aet it goes? , by two o'clock, we should net that it goes? , by two o'clock, we should get that announcement _ it goes? , by two o'clock, we should get that announcement from - it goes? , by two o'clock, we should get that announcement from the - it goes? , by two o'clock, we should. get that announcement from the 1922 committee, the tory backbenchers who oversee this process telling us whether penny modern has got that 100 figure, sir graham brady will make that announcement around tpm in parliament. let's see what happens there. if it is just rishi parliament. let's see what happens there. if it isjust rishi sunak, i suppose it is feasible that it happened today, i think it is probably more likely that he would see the transition tomorrowjust to give everybody a bit of space to make that happen, although, nobody has said that officially this morning. it is quite plausible that we have a new prime minister with herfeet under the desk we have a new prime minister with her feet under the desk tomorrow, facing that colossal, daunting entry of an economy in real trouble, off a fiscal statement due this time next week where the chancellor, jeremy hunt at the moment, but it will be “p hunt at the moment, but it will be up to the new prime minister, is due

to tell us all what cuts are going to tell us all what cuts are going to have to come then, what spending reductions are going to happen, potentially what taxes could go up. to try and plug the fiscal black hole, we are in this really strange position this morning where rishi sunak has said nothing about what he will actually do when he takes over. yes, we had that campaign over the summer when he set out his plans, but that was against a very different backdrop, both domestically and internationally, where rishi sunak, remember, were saying, i will take 4p off in come tax basic rate by the end of the next parliament. it's going to be tricky to promise that given what underfunding tax cuts has done over the past few weeks. there is also the past few weeks. there is also the question for mr sendak that we can see on screen, there is a question about whether he would have to rethink the energy package that liz truss was promising. in the

leadership campaign, mr sendak mac was saying that he wanted targeted support. in the next few months we are seeing targeted universal support, that cap on the unit of energy prices. my guess is support, that cap on the unit of energy prices. my guess is that support, that cap on the unit of energy prices. my guess is that if a new prime minister came and they wouldn't be able to rip that up being that it's been promised to household but after six months it is not clear what is going to happen. rishi sunak would be able to revisit that. if he is prime minister tomorrow, there are huge questions about steering the economy that he will have to face. he will have to put a new cabinet together, we just saw him in the comments, if he is prime minister, he will be an pmqs on wednesday at noon. big week ahead. ., on wednesday at noon. big week ahead. . , , ahead. can he unite the party behind him, ou ahead. can he unite the party behind him. you are — ahead. can he unite the party behind him, you are talking _ ahead. can he unite the party behind him, you are talking about _ ahead. can he unite the party behind him, you are talking about the - ahead. can he unite the party behind him, you are talking about the big i him, you are talking about the big economic stuff that he has to do, what about the politics of his own party? what about the politics of his own -a ?

what about the politics of his own .a ? ., , ., " what about the politics of his own .a ? ., , ., 4' ., what about the politics of his own .a ? ., , ., ~' ., , party? the reason i think that rishi sunak is extremely _ party? the reason i think that rishi sunak is extremely likely _ party? the reason i think that rishi sunak is extremely likely to - party? the reason i think that rishi sunak is extremely likely to be - party? the reason i think that rishi sunak is extremely likely to be the | sunak is extremely likely to be the next prime minister is that he has the most chance of doing that with the most chance of doing that with the parliamentary party, based on what we have seen this morning. i have just had a message from one of my colleagues saying that he is one away from having half of the parliamentary officially declared to say that they are backing him now, so he is within touching distance of having a majority. i think that will cap massively in his favour. even if this goes to the membership, there are a lot of tory mps that think the members are going to listen to them this time and probably go the same way. penny mordaunt is still officially on 26 mps, that means she still has 7a to make up, i think she does have more privately but does she have 7a privately? there are a lot of sceptics that think that is not the case. both sides are arguing, they always do this, they

are arguing that they are the one to the party. i think rishi sunak has more evidence this morning that he can unite the parliamentary party or at least get a lot of them onside. again, we are going to hear a lot of caveats today, the one caveat to thatis caveats today, the one caveat to that is that a lot of boris johnson's die—hard supporters, nadine dorries, jacob rees—mogg, have been extremely critical of rishi sunak over the last few months. i suspect we may still see them causing a bit of trouble from them causing a bit of trouble from the back bench. that them causing a bit of trouble from the back bench.— them causing a bit of trouble from the back bench. ., ., . ~ ., , the back bench. that moment nick was talkin: the back bench. that moment nick was talking about — the back bench. that moment nick was talking about as — the back bench. that moment nick was talking about as we _ the back bench. that moment nick was talking about as we see _ the back bench. that moment nick was talking about as we see rishi _ the back bench. that moment nick was talking about as we see rishi sunak - talking about as we see rishi sunak tiptoeing ever closer to this potentially being a coronation just one vote short now of having half of all tory mps backing him. there is still a way for this to unfold, the ballot closes at tpm, that is when we will hear the announcement of where the official numbers are in terms of who the tory mps are

supporting. i spoke earlier to lord forsyth. lord forsyth is a conservative peer and was secretary of state for scotland injohn major's government. he is now chairman of the association of conservative peers in the house of lords. he told me that he feels penny mordaunt should reconsider her candidacy. we need to bring this whole pantomime to a conclusion. i think the best thing would be for penny mordaunt to do what she says she wants to do, which is to bring unity to the party by withdrawing so that we have a coronation of one candidate and that we can get on with the business of governing. it's perfectly obvious that she now has the support of a vast number of conservative mps compared to penny. and we need to move forward. and the last thing we need is for us to have an extended period when markets are unsettled and when, quite frankly, the conservative party is looking ridiculous, both at home and abroad. labour and the labourand the snp labour and the snp are calling for a

general election. as shadow attorney general, labour's emily thornberry, expressed earlier. 70% of the public want to have a general election, why on earth should a small group of people in westminster abbey deciding the fate of our nation? we are supposed to be a democracy, and, we can'tjust keep changing lead all the time and not go back for some kind of mandate. some of the tory mps did seem to understand that, i suppose, in that they were using it as an argument for why they had to support boris johnson because at least he had led the conservative party in 2019 when they got that majority, but the other side of the coin was, they were saying rishi sunak or whoever would not have a democratic mandate. well, yeah. that is why we need to have an election. we shouldn't be allowing this government to crush our economy, crows a crisis —— cause

a crisis, if rishi sunak gets the crown today, he won't have been elected by tory mps or by the public. he won't even have been facing the media in advance of getting the crown, he won't be telling us, for example, whether he agrees with jeremy telling us, for example, whether he agrees withjeremy hunt, whether jeremy hunt is going to be his chancellor this time next week, whether he is going to be going ahead with the same policies as jeremy hunt, we have no idea. it is a complete leap into the blue, so to speak. a complete leap into the blue, so to seak., , ., a complete leap into the blue, so to seak. , ., ., ., speak. just to come in, we are a parliamentary — speak. just to come in, we are a parliamentary democracy - speak. just to come in, we are a parliamentary democracy not. speak. just to come in, we are a parliamentary democracy not a i parliamentary democracy not a presidential system, and there are many presidents of course under labour as well coming in mid—term without an election... we labour as well coming in mid-term without an election. . ._ without an election... we changed lieber without an election... we changed liel>er once _ without an election... we changed lieber once under _ without an election... we changed lieber once under labour, - without an election... we changed lieber once under labour, but - without an election... we changed lieber once under labour, but we | lieber once under labour, but we changed from black to brown and brown was the chancellor. i stood in

2005 and tories were saying vote for blair... , ., _ , ,, blair... obviously rishi sunak was the chancellor... _ blair... obviously rishi sunak was the chancellor... he _ blair... obviously rishi sunak was the chancellor... he was - blair... obviously rishi sunak was i the chancellor... he was completely unknown in — the chancellor... he was completely unknown in 2019 _ the chancellor... he was completely unknown in 2019 and _ the chancellor... he was completely unknown in 2019 and we _ the chancellor... he was completely unknown in 2019 and we have - the chancellor... he was completely unknown in 2019 and we have had i the chancellor... he was completely. unknown in 2019 and we have had the swinging of policies, in the end it is policies that matter and we have had one government standing four one lot of policies and another for another lot, they keep saying they are new governments but we don't get any democratic choice over whether this is a government that we want. it doesn't have to be this way, there is an alternative and the public are crying out for change, why aren't they allowed to have that? �* ., why aren't they allowed to have that? ~ ., ., ~ why aren't they allowed to have that? �* ., ., ~ ., ., that? before we talk about labour olicies, that? before we talk about labour policies. and. _ that? before we talk about labour policies, and, it— that? before we talk about labour policies, and, it may _ that? before we talk about labour policies, and, it may well - that? before we talk about labour policies, and, it may well be - that? before we talk about labour policies, and, it may well be that| policies, and, it may well be that there is a general election eminently, we don't know, the maximum time frame for the next election is two years, just before that, stability, you talk about

stability. as an election now going to deliver stability, how would it do that? it would more vertical uncertainty, wouldn't it? if do that? it would more vertical uncertainty, wouldn't it?- do that? it would more vertical uncertainty, wouldn't it? if we had an election — uncertainty, wouldn't it? if we had an election after _ uncertainty, wouldn't it? if we had an election after boris _ uncertainty, wouldn't it? if we had an election after boris johnson - uncertainty, wouldn't it? if we had| an election after boris johnson was an election after borisjohnson was gone, we wouldn't have even had liz truss and a crashing of the economy because he would have had a labour government. they cause a crisis and they say we cannot have an election because we have caused a crisis and we need to fix it but we're not going to tell you how. none of this bears true inspection. we are just accepting that somehow or other this is all right, that what is happening todayis is all right, that what is happening today is ok. it is in is all right, that what is happening today is ok. it i— today is ok. it is in terms of standing. — today is ok. it is in terms of standing, what _ today is ok. it is in terms of standing, what would - today is ok. it is in terms of standing, what would be - today is ok. it is in terms of standing, what would be in. today is ok. it is in terms of- standing, what would be in your manifesto? we standing, what would be in your manifesto?— standing, what would be in your manifesto? ~ . , ., , manifesto? we have short-term things we would do. — manifesto? we have short-term things we would do. we _ manifesto? we have short-term things we would do, we would _ manifesto? we have short-term things we would do, we would have _ manifesto? we have short-term things we would do, we would have a - we would do, we would have a windfall tax on big energy them to get away with making massive great profits because prices have

gone up so much. we should be having a tax on them and then using that money to help keep the bills low. i appreciate the conservative say they are keeping the bills low for a certain period of time, they are only doing it on the basis of borrowing. more and more billions of pounds. in the end, that money has to be paid back and it has to be paid by us. this crisis that was caused by downing street is being paid for by working people, it is not right. that is one of the first things we would do. we would be able to come in as a stable government, it is quite clear who our leader is, who have a would be, you would get stability, we would be a proper, grown—up government, we would be able to bring in a period of calm. we would stabilise public finances, we would make sure that we paid our way properly and we have long—term plans for growing the economy in a proper way. plans for growing the economy in a properway. not plans for growing the economy in a proper way. not making the rich richer and somehow the poor are going to benefit by trickling down money or whatever the nonsenses. we

would be growing our economy by making sure that we were really firing on all cylinders when it comes to the green economy, when it comes to the green economy, when it comes to the green economy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to having green, clean energy by 2030. how have the markets been reacting? let's talk to fiona cincotta market analyst at city index — a financial services provider. what is happening on the markets? we what is happening on the markets? - saw the pound actually open fairly strong when the markets opened in asia and it has managed to hold onto some of that strength as far as the gilt market is concerned, that is the market that the government uses to borrow money, to be able to fund programmes and fiscal measures that it has. we have also seen an improvement there. if we remember back to the chaotic couple of weeks that we have seen, it has been very

much the gilt market and the pound where we have seen that chaos play out, we saw gilt yields go very much higher over 1t%. we also saw the pound dropped to a record low in fact versus the us dollar. we are in a very different place right now, the pound is at over 113 against the us dollar, and gilt yields have fallen below that key 1t% level. there is definitely a level of stability showing in the markets. that is probably because the markets feel that rishi sunak might be more prudent candidate and that is sort of that trust that he may be that preferred candidate to address the nation's finances. it is worth noticing that the pound has fallen off the highs and that is because we have had some data through that is showing that the business activity in the uk is contracting. thatjust highlights the dire economic position that the new prime minister

will be inheriting.— will be inheriting. exactly. that is the underlying — will be inheriting. exactly. that is the underlying story, _ will be inheriting. exactly. that is the underlying story, isn't - will be inheriting. exactly. that is the underlying story, isn't it, - the underlying story, isn't it, because of course we are seeing all of the politics and how the markets react in the short term to that, but, the underlying picture is a situation of high inflation, of low growth, and of spending cuts and tax rises most likely needing to be announced in the not—too—distant future. announced in the not-too-distant future. ., �* , announced in the not-too-distant future. . �*, ., , future. that's right. the outlook is coin: future. that's right. the outlook is auoin to future. that's right. the outlook is going to be _ future. that's right. the outlook is going to be very — future. that's right. the outlook is going to be very difficult _ future. that's right. the outlook is going to be very difficult outlook. . going to be very difficult outlook. it is really quite bleak. that we would expect to be reflected in pound. also in the gilt market. we would expect the pound to be struggling perhaps to move much higher than where it is right now. just because that outlook is so bleak. there is also the other side of the coin when we are measuring the pound against the us dollar, we do also have to remember what is happening in the us and what the federal reserve are planning to do

as far as federal reserve are planning to do as faras hiking federal reserve are planning to do as far as hiking interest rates over there. as far as the uk economic outlook is concerned, as i said, it is going to be a very tough few months. that is almost what is neededin months. that is almost what is needed in order to put the brakes on the economy, in order to bring that inflation level back down. that is going to be reflected in a weaker pound going forward.— going to be reflected in a weaker pound going forward. thank you very much fiona with _ pound going forward. thank you very much fiona with that _ pound going forward. thank you very much fiona with that market - much fiona with that market reaction. we have had just in the past few moments that significant development in the numbers of tory mps supporting rishi sunak. the bbc understands, according to mps that have confirmed to the bbc, where they are lending their support, that rishi sunak is nowjust one mp short of having the support of half of the parliamentary party. it is a symbolic point but it doesn't mean it is all over. the race certainly is not over at this point because penny mordaunt is saying she is going nowhere and received the

neck�*s team are saying they are taking nothing for granted. the polling closes at tpm, we will be here for all the twists and turns. welcome back to the studio. we are going to take a look at some of the other stories around the world now. the latest update from the ukraine because united states, britain, france have condemned russia's latest move on ukraine where they say that ukraine are preparing to use a radioactive bum on their own territory. they say that it is a pretext for escalation. zelensky talked about this in his video address. ., _ talked about this in his video address. ., , , ., address. one to day the russian minister of— address. one to day the russian minister of defence _ address. one to day the russian minister of defence sets - address. one to day the russian minister of defence sets up - address. one to day the russian minister of defence sets up a - address. one to day the russian i minister of defence sets up a phone call and calls for ministers with a story about a dirty nuclear bomb, we understand the source of all the dirty things are better do in this war, it is russia that started

nuclear blackmail it is a project free of dressing missile that goes among others over the ukraine nuclear object. these are the russian troops who have have mined down the power plant and are blackmailing with blowing it. it is russia that uses phosphorous munitions and banned personal minds against civilian infrastructure. lets get the latest from a correspondent he was in the capital kyiv. the russian defence minister may be allegation in a flurry of calls with other european defence ministers. he said ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb in other words a bum laced with radioactive material. this allegation has been dismissed by western countries as transparently false and here in kyiv there foreign minister said this allegation was a lie. he said, the russians often

accuse others of what they plan it themselves. he said this claim is part of russia's disinformation campaign and this is happening as ukrainians are making some games as they try to re—capture one of the southern cities, one of the largest under russian occupation and there has been some speculation that russian forces could be preparing to pull out from parts of the region. the russian appointed officials in kherson are carrying out evacuations of civilians and have announced the appointment of a militia as they say ukrainian forces are preparing a large—scale offensive to recapture kherson. earliertoday, russian kherson. earlier today, russian executives kherson. earliertoday, russian executives say russia was preparing to defend the city and there were no signs that russians were preparing to flee kherson. to the us now,

hollywood is preparing for their star of a new trial on rape and sexual assault charges for harvey weinstein. it is expected to start on monday. this court case follows a harvey weinstein being convicted in new york for other six crimes although that case is under appeal. i'm a reporter. he was convicted and incarcerated in new york. the man who once ruled hollywood goes further into the darkness with failing eyesight and rotting teeth. it is those who say they survived and shed light on his abuse that shine. they continue the fight for justice. harvey weinstein is facing 11 charges in los angeles including four counts of rape, alleged to have taken place here in beverly hills. the charges carry a sentence of more than 100 years, if he is convicted, he will almost certainly die in prison. a far cry from the luxury hotels his accusers say he used as his hunting ground. it has been five

years since the new york times published bombshell allegations of systemic sexual abuse by the man even hollywood royalty referred to as god. the premiere of the film dramatising the investigation coincided with the start of his trial. despite his lawyer's efforts to prevent that. i trial. despite his lawyer's efforts to prevent that.— to prevent that. i hope that this film will show _ to prevent that. i hope that this film will show how _ to prevent that. i hope that this film will show how much - to prevent that. i hope that this film will show how much effort. to prevent that. i hope that this i film will show how much effort and how many people had to be involved in the process of showing the truth. because, harvey weinstein seemed to be untouchable. he used to say that he is the sheriff of this town and nobody can do anything. we he is the sheriff of this town and nobody can do anything. we need to remember- — nobody can do anything. we need to remember- we _ nobody can do anything. we need to remember. we need _ nobody can do anything. we need to remember. we need to _ nobody can do anything. we need to remember. we need to keep - nobody can do anything. we need to remember. we need to keep talking about— remember. we need to keep talking about this, — remember. we need to keep talking about this, because it is something that happened so much, and it is unfortunate. we need to stop it. or ican_ unfortunate. we need to stop it. or i can still— unfortunate. we need to stop it. or i can still see it, the hotel and the four— i can still see it, the hotel and the four plan... i can still see it, the hotel and the four plan. . ._ i can still see it, the hotel and the four plan... the findings of a survey show—

the four plan... the findings of a survey show that _ the four plan... the findings of a survey show that 6096 _ the four plan... the findings of a survey show that 6096 of - the four plan... the findings of a survey show that 6096 of women | the four plan... the findings of a l survey show that 6096 of women in the four plan... the findings of a i survey show that 6096 of women in the survey show that 60% of women in the entertainment industry are still experiencing sexual harassment. there is concern that movements are losing momentum.— there is concern that movements are losing momentum. when the meeting movement was _ losing momentum. when the meeting movement was really _ losing momentum. when the meeting movement was really taking _ losing momentum. when the meeting movement was really taking root i losing momentum. when the meeting movement was really taking root in i movement was really taking root in the in the entertainment industry you felt everyone was leaning in, people caring, putting policies in place, launching programmes, and it definitely has, there is less of that happening now. is definitely has, there is less of that happening now.— definitely has, there is less of that happening now. is more women reared that happening now. is more women prepared to — that happening now. is more women prepared to take _ that happening now. is more women prepared to take to _ that happening now. is more women prepared to take to the _ that happening now. is more women prepared to take to the witness i prepared to take to the witness stand, i spoke to one of harvey weinstein's first accusers. mr; stand, i spoke to one of harvey weinstein's first accusers. my heart is auoin weinstein's first accusers. my heart is going out — weinstein's first accusers. my heart is going out to _ weinstein's first accusers. my heart is going out to those _ weinstein's first accusers. my heart is going out to those women - weinstein's first accusers. my heart is going out to those women for i is going out to those women for their— is going out to those women for their courage to be able to speak out and _ their courage to be able to speak out and do — their courage to be able to speak out and do this and had their day in court. _ out and do this and had their day in court. it— out and do this and had their day in court. it is— out and do this and had their day in court, it is really important, a lot of people's— court, it is really important, a lot of people's lives were really impacted by this in a way that devastated them. all of us. i was fortunate — devastated them. all of us. i was fortunate enough to not be raped, i -ot fortunate enough to not be raped, i got out _ fortunate enough to not be raped, i got out of— fortunate enough to not be raped, i got out of there in time, but i

definitely— got out of there in time, but i definitely paid a heavy price. the la trial is definitely paid a heavy price. tue: la trial is likely definitely paid a heavy price. tte: la trial is likely to definitely paid a heavy price. t"t2 la trial is likely to be definitely paid a heavy price. tt2 la trial is likely to be less definitely paid a heavy price. t“t2 la trial is likely to be less of a spectacle than what we saw in new york as this is a sequel to a story that their world has already had. it is nonetheless, an important opportunity for the women who say they were silenced, to be heard, and for the legendary hollywood producer who still protesters in a sense to clear his name. hello there will be damage to the amazon rainforest a false narrow is elected. his rival says that he will end in illegal mining and deforestation. 0ur reporter reports from the largest territory. this tribe lived deep in this

forest. they are one of the most isolated tribes in south america but their land is becoming coveted. this health centre has become a on the front line on the fight of mining. 0ld front line on the fight of mining. old and young, nobody escapes the scourge. 0utside old and young, nobody escapes the scourge. outside a makeshift award is full of patients with malaria. another illness brought in by outsiders making the outsider sick. translation they come so close to our community, the diseases don't stop. the machines were constantly under smoke from them causes diarrhoea and illness. her grandson has pneumonia. the tribe's parents way to name them until they are years old. the mercury used to

extract the gold has poisoned these waters and fishing and drinking here is now impossible. this is the mine thatis is now impossible. this is the mine that is causing the pain. it has scarred the landscape and its people. there are as many as 20,000 illegal miners working in the region. we havejust passed one of the worst areas many of the miners are armed and may shoot the plane. the way of life for nearly 30,000 tribe members is in the balance. translation: if false narrow wins, he will kill us all, we are surrounded by big politicians who do not respect us. we are worried about people in the city. they don't want to stop, theyjust want people in the city. they don't want to stop, they just want to people in the city. they don't want to stop, theyjust want to rob our lands. maria works as a cook in the

mines. she is scared. with the money that she has and she has built a house but she is worried about her children and the lack of opportunity. translation: i opportunity. translation: ., , ., ., translation: i would prefer to go without then _ translation: i would prefer to go without then have _ translation: i would prefer to go without then have my _ translation: i would prefer to go without then have my children i translation: i would prefer to go without then have my children do i without then have my children do this. you run the risk of being arrested. but we all go,. tit arrested. but we all go,. in a reuion arrested. but we all go,. in a region with — arrested. but we all go,. in a region with resources, i arrested. but we all go,. in a region with resources, or scenario as friends here. as long as inequality exists so to will the challenge of protecting the amazon. that is it from me. we will head back to downing street.

momentum continues to build behind rishi sunak. we have heard that he has the support of at least half of the conservative mps. each contender needs at least 100 tory mps to back them to go forward in the process. penny mordaunt, the only other candidate, we know that she has fewer than 30 mp's publicly supporting her. herteam fewer than 30 mp's publicly supporting her. her team are saying that she does have more support and for now they are certainly not going anywhere. the ballot closes at tpm. doctor liam fox says that the last thing the country needs is a

uncertainty of a general election. t uncertainty of a general election. i don't think there will be an early end to this today. you don't think there will be an early end to this today.— don't think there will be an early end to this today. don't think there will be an early end to this toda . ., ., ., ., end to this today. you have moved on from boris johnson _ end to this today. you have moved on from boris johnson but _ end to this today. you have moved on from boris johnson but has _ end to this today. you have moved on from boris johnson but has the i from borisjohnson but has the party. can whoever comes in next deliver unity and stability? it party. can whoever comes in next deliver unity and stability?- deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring _ deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring that _ deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring that i _ deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring that i was _ deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring that i was a - deliver unity and stability? if you are inferring that i was a boris i are inferring that i was a boris johnson supporter, that is not right, i have been a rishi sunak supporterfor a long right, i have been a rishi sunak supporter for a long time. right, i have been a rishi sunak supporterfor a long time. i wasn't a borisjohnson supporter then a boris johnson supporter then either a borisjohnson supporter then either but i take your point. the key thing here is that we were elected in 2019 on a manifesto that we still have to deliver for the british people. we need to provide

stability and certainty at the time of huge international disruption. we still have putin swore we still have problems of global instability in the economy, partly from the commodity shock of that war. there is a great deal for the government to do. the british people will expect them to provide with calm and competent government. and that is what rishi sunak offers. calm competent government. and that is what rishi sunak offers.— what rishi sunak offers. calm and com etent what rishi sunak offers. calm and competent government _ what rishi sunak offers. calm and competent government is - what rishi sunak offers. calm and competent government is going i what rishi sunak offers. calm and | competent government is going to what rishi sunak offers. calm and i competent government is going to be difficult in these times. people are facing difficult decisions dealing with the cost of living. where is the next leader going to be able to deliver the spending cuts that are going to be needed to do deliver stability on the markets. the most

im ortant stability on the markets. the most important thing — stability on the markets. the most important thing is _ stability on the markets. the most important thing is to _ stability on the markets. the most important thing is to indicate i stability on the markets. the most important thing is to indicate that. important thing is to indicate that we will be fiscally prudent. that we will not be spending money that we do not have and that the international markets can be confident that the uk's economy will be run responsibly. we have the financial statement next week which will set out the economic position, but we also have to understand that the british government doesn't operate in a vacuum. interest rates will be driven up and will continue to go up by the actions of the federal reserve in the united states. we can ensure that there is no additional premium on interest rates by making certain that the economy is being run with some clarity and confidence. we are still

a country that is still borrowing and as long as we are borrowing money we have to show those that we are borrowing from that we are a good risk. it are borrowing from that we are a aood risk. , ., , i. good risk. it is not 'ust your olitical good risk. it is notjust your political opponents - good risk. it is notjust your political opponents that i good risk. it is notjust your political opponents that are j good risk. it is notjust your- political opponents that are saying there needs to be an election, there are voices within the tory party that are saying that rishi sunak does not have a mandate, it is not clear what he stands for and he hasn't stood on a manifesto for what he would potentially deliver. do you think an election is avoidable? i think an election is avoidable? i think it is the last thing we need, the uncertainty of a general election. it is the last thing the markets would want to see from the uk. in britain the mandate is not given to the leader of a party, it is given to the party. we still have more than two years to run, we have a majority in the house of commons

and the british people are right in thinking that we have a duty to carry out that manifesto. andrea leadsom is a penny mordaunt supporter and said that it was important that there is a contest and party members were given a choice. there is a lot of support for penny. now that borisjohnson there is a lot of support for penny. now that boris johnson has there is a lot of support for penny. now that borisjohnson has said that he is not going to stand, a lot of his supporters are very keen on penny mordaunt. many will be coming to her. what is important is that penny mordaunt is a fresh face but she is also the unity candidate that the party needs. the

she is also the unity candidate that the party needs-— the party needs. the bbc has confirmed — the party needs. the bbc has confirmed the _ the party needs. the bbc has confirmed the tally _ the party needs. the bbc has confirmed the tally that i the party needs. the bbc has confirmed the tally that half i the party needs. the bbc has i confirmed the tally that half the parliamentary party are supporting rishi sunak. penny mordaunt�*s team are saying that she is not going anywhere. publicly they have fewer than 30 mp backing them. we can confirm that more than 50% of tory mp backing rishi sunak. if the vote were to go on to members that could be an important factor. we have seen a flood of extra support for rishi sunak this morning, he has considerable momentum in parliament but penny mordaunt is not throwing in the towel quite yet. let as talk to the editor of the house of

parliament's in—house magazine. is it all over? it parliament's in-house magazine. is it allover? ., , parliament's in-house magazine. is it all over?— it all over? it does seem that way, penny mordaunt _ it all over? it does seem that way, penny mordaunt doesn't _ it all over? it does seem that way, penny mordaunt doesn't seem i it all over? it does seem that way, penny mordaunt doesn't seem to l it all over? it does seem that way, . penny mordaunt doesn't seem to be going anywhere, she was she was tweeting and saying that our she was still fighting. you would have thought that if she had close to 100 backers she would have more public support but you never know in politics. support but you never know in olitics. ., ., , ., politics. how important is that moment that _ politics. how important is that moment that with _ politics. how important is that moment that with that - politics. how important is that moment that with that rishi i politics. how important is that i moment that with that rishi sunak has the support of more than half the party. i has the support of more than half the -a . ~ , ., the party. i think it is a huge statement. _ the party. i think it is a huge statement. one _ the party. i think it is a huge statement. one of _ the party. i think it is a huge statement. one of the i the party. i think it is a huge i statement. one of the problems the party. i think it is a huge - statement. one of the problems for liz truss was that she did not have the support of the parliamentary party, she came in third and it's not through to the final ballot and made it into number ten with the support of the conservative party members. that made it hard for her to —— government. there were some

huge decisions but one of the problems was that she did not have the mps backing her. i think if penny mordaunt does get into the ballot she will have the same problem. ballot she will have the same roblem. ., , ,, ., ,, problem. could rishi sunak unite the -a ? the problem. could rishi sunak unite the party? the conservative _ problem. could rishi sunak unite the party? the conservative party - party? the conservative party increasingly — party? the conservative party increasingly feels _ party? the conservative party increasingly feels divided i party? the conservative party increasingly feels divided in i party? the conservative party| increasingly feels divided in all sorts of different directions. a lot of times it was leave and remain and there were the red seats and the blue seats. it does feel like it will take someone with a lot of authority to get through to the next general election. he says he is the man that can deliver but it is certainly not a united party. there are many constituencies _ certainly not a united party. there are many constituencies and i certainly not a united party. there are many constituencies and the l are many constituencies and the markets are very important. they are making an assumption according to analysts that it will be rishi sunak and they are responding favourably.

whatever happens going forward, the decisions are going to be very difficult and we are hearing strong voices within the party saying that we need an election. so it is not just opponents saying that. that's ri . ht, ou just opponents saying that. that's right. you have — just opponents saying that. that's right, you have the _ just opponents saying that. that's right, you have the boris - just opponents saying that. that's right, you have the boris johnson| right, you have the borisjohnson backers are calling as well. the last thing that the conservative mps want is a an election big because they may lose their seat and as you say the economic problems coming down the track, in inflation, interest rates, the cost of living crisis, in many ways who would want to be prime minister? itruthat crisis, in many ways who would want to be prime minister?— to be prime minister? what is your sense of the _ to be prime minister? what is your sense of the mood _ to be prime minister? what is your sense of the mood within - to be prime minister? what is your sense of the mood within the i to be prime minister? what is your. sense of the mood within the party? we have heard some angry voices amongst the tory mps saying that the government has lost the trust of the

people. fits government has lost the trust of the --eole. a ,, government has lost the trust of the neale, m r, government has lost the trust of the --eole. a ,, government has lost the trust of the n-eole. a ,, ., ., government has lost the trust of the people. as you say, i speak to a lot of conservative _ people. as you say, i speak to a lot of conservative mps _ people. as you say, i speak to a lot of conservative mps and _ people. as you say, i speak to a lot of conservative mps and they i people. as you say, i speak to a lot of conservative mps and they are i of conservative mps and they are unhappy at, they are unhappy in many directions. some are annoyed that their person didn't make it through or things that happened in the last few months but it doesn't feel like a very content party right now. that is problematic because with a new prime minister, they want to go into a the election united. i think that rishi sunak has a big jobjust in terms of party management before things about the economic situation. that it looks like a he is going to be the next inhabitant of number ten. how do you think things will unfold today? tote ten. how do you think things will unfold today?— ten. how do you think things will unfold today? we don't have a full timetable so _ unfold today? we don't have a full timetable so we _ unfold today? we don't have a full timetable so we don't _ unfold today? we don't have a full timetable so we don't know- unfold today? we don't have a full timetable so we don't know what i unfold today? we don't have a full. timetable so we don't know what will happen if penny mordaunt dropped out and that paved the way for rishi sunak to be the prime minister. there are things that need to fall

into place, and for example if king charles is in the palace. i think he could be in number ten by this evening. i think if he does make it through, he will probably hold his first prime minister's questions on wednesday. forthe first prime minister's questions on wednesday. for the moment, first prime minister's questions on wednesday. forthe moment, liz first prime minister's questions on wednesday. for the moment, liz truss will be inside number ten until friday. it will be inside number ten until frida . , , , ., will be inside number ten until frida . , , , 2 , friday. it is dizzying, when you try to net friday. it is dizzying, when you try to get your _ friday. it is dizzying, when you try to get your head _ friday. it is dizzying, when you try to get your head around _ friday. it is dizzying, when you try to get your head around the i friday. it is dizzying, when you try. to get your head around the change in personnel. we have had four chancellors in quick succession. would you expect penny mordaunt and saying that she would keepjeremy hunt as chancellor? that saying that she would keep jeremy hunt as chancellor?— hunt as chancellor? that is a big cuestion, hunt as chancellor? that is a big question. are — hunt as chancellor? that is a big question, are i _ hunt as chancellor? that is a big question, are i was _ hunt as chancellor? that is a big question, are i was talking i hunt as chancellor? that is a big question, are i was talking to i question, are i was talking to someone who said that rishi sunak would like his own chancellor. he is

very across economic policy, he has his own agenda. it is rare to become a primary step from being chancellor, so he will be looking to put his own stamp on things. so jeremy hunt may not be in the treasury for very long, it is a difficult decision for him because the markets seem to be steadying but it may be obvious that he needs to be keeping him in place. so he can make that economic statement on the sist. make that economic statement on the 31st. changing that make mean that it will be pushed back and the markets may not like that. it may be the first big decision of rishi sunak. ~ ., ., ., ., sunak. what do we learn from the to pa sunak. what do we learn from the tory party and _ sunak. what do we learn from the tory party and how _ sunak. what do we learn from the tory party and how it _ sunak. what do we learn from the tory party and how it has - sunak. what do we learn from the tory party and how it has shifted, | tory party and how it has shifted, in terms of belief as a result of what we have seen happening with liz truss? i what we have seen happening with liz truss? ~ ., , ., truss? i think that is a good question. — truss? i think that is a good question, the _ truss? i think that is a good question, the conservative. truss? i think that is a good i

question, the conservative party is a broad and tense but it's does seem to be squeezing many strands of thought. that does feed into what people are saying that they need to be in opposition to thrash those issues out. is it a low tax, socially conservative or socially liberal party? i don't know people have very different ways of thinking about so i don't think it it remains to be seen who comes out on top and what happens to those people who are unhappy with the choices over the next few months. will they break away and go off to a another party. this is an interesting question. thank you very much. there has been a lot happening this morning, in terms of whether support is landing. very much landing behind rishi

sunak. he now has the support of half of tory mps. what do people outside think? our correspondent has been speaking to people near heathrow airport. here we have produce from all over the world, these apples are from france, pineapples from costa rica and there are pairs that have been imported from belgium. it is traders in places like this that are feeling the sharp end of the economic turmoil that we have seen. here is raj who has won businesses. how is what we have seen affected you? mr; what we have seen affected you? ij�*i family has

what we have seen affected you? m1: family has been what we have seen affected you? m1 family has been importing for a long time and this has to be the worst time and this has to be the worst time that we have seen here. we have had petrol prices going up are and we have had delays and strikes at the docks, which is delaying produce. the worst has been the currency fluctuations, the uncertainty has led to the pound falling against the dollar. this has led to us increasing our prices. there is some garlic here that you import, that is why garlic has got more expensive in the supermarket. the currency has dropped nearly 20% against the dollar and we have to pass this on. there have been no support so we have to increase prices. support so we have to increase rices. ~ , , ., ~ support so we have to increase rices. ~ , , ., ,, ., support so we have to increase rices. ~ ,, .,~ ., prices. we will speak to your brother. it _ prices. we will speak to your brother. it seems _ prices. we will speak to your brother. it seems that i prices. we will speak to your brother. it seems that rishil prices. we will speak to your - brother. it seems that rishi sunak is the frontrunner, if he is watching, what would you like to see

him do? we watching, what would you like to see him do? ~ ., , .,, watching, what would you like to see him do? ~ ., , ., , ., him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past _ him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past 12 _ him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past 12 months _ him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past 12 months and - him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past 12 months and one - him do? we have seen rapid growth over the past 12 months and one of| over the past 12 months and one of the biggest challenges is a shortage of labour. iam the biggest challenges is a shortage of labour. i am aware that many industries have suffered. but the food service industry is labour intensive and i would be looking at our new prime minister to help businesses fill roles where there are shortages. by assisting with the whole process, reducing admin and fees within the existing system. lets speak to duncan to get the economic overview of the challenges. 50 many different priorities, do we so many different priorities, do we get a sense of how rishi sunak might

approach those? the get a sense of how rishi sunak might approach those?— approach those? the problem is that rishi sunak will _ approach those? the problem is that rishi sunak will be _ approach those? the problem is that rishi sunak will be concentrating - approach those? the problem is that rishi sunak will be concentrating on | rishi sunak will be concentrating on the financial market turbulence and currency _ the financial market turbulence and currency turbulence so here you will be taking _ currency turbulence so here you will be taking steps to reassure financial_ be taking steps to reassure financial markets by raising taxes and cutting spending. the worry is the more — and cutting spending. the worry is the more he moved to reassure the markets, _ the more he moved to reassure the markets, the less he will do to help households and firms directly. what we are hearing _ households and firms directly. what we are hearing from _ households and firms directly. wuat we are hearing from people is that the cost of living pressures are still there. we had the warning from the former go governor of the bank of england. we the former go governor of the bank of encland. ~ ., ., ., of england. we have inflation runnina of england. we have inflation running the _ of england. we have inflation running the highest - of england. we have inflation running the highest it's - of england. we have inflation running the highest it's been| of england. we have inflation i running the highest it's been in of england. we have inflation - running the highest it's been in 40 years. _ running the highest it's been in 40 years. we — running the highest it's been in 40 years, we have the economy slipping into recession and household confidence is as low as it has ever been _ confidence is as low as it has ever been the — confidence is as low as it has ever been. the outlook is grim and if you add on _

been. the outlook is grim and if you add on top _ been. the outlook is grim and if you add on top government spending cuts, we are _ add on top government spending cuts, we are looking at a deeper recession.— we are looking at a deeper recession. ., ~ , ., ~ , , recession. thank you. as things stand, recession. thank you. as things stand. we _ recession. thank you. as things stand. we are — recession. thank you. as things stand, we are expecting - recession. thank you. as things stand, we are expecting that. recession. thank you. as things | stand, we are expecting that the recession. thank you. as things - stand, we are expecting that the new chancellor will set out his tax and spending plan on the 31st of october and that is when we will find out the how the financial plans will stack up. we can't talk now to two people who have cast votes in the last leadership contest. fiona voted for liz truss but has now resigned as a conservative party member. . fiona why have you left the tory party? i fiona why have you left the tory pa ? ,., , fiona why have you left the tory pa ? , , , party? i left the party because i don't recognise _

party? i left the party because i don't recognise it _ party? i left the party because i don't recognise it as _ party? i left the party because i don't recognise it as a - party? i left the party because i. don't recognise it as a conservative party. i voted for liz truss, she said about lowering taxes, helping businesses, and less state intervention. i thought we had a true conservative leader but the conservative mps have forced her out. we have a ridiculous situation where a conservative chancellor is proposing to lower taxes and he was sacked. we have a conservative home secretary who wanted to control immigration and she was forced out. and we have a conservative mp who wanted to lower taxes and she has left. so i don't recognise the party and so i have left it.— and so i have left it. what did you think about _ and so i have left it. what did you think about what _ and so i have left it. what did you think about what happened - and so i have left it. what did you think about what happened in - and so i have left it. what did you think about what happened in the | think about what happened in the markets and with the reaction to those unfunded tax cuts? i am

markets and with the reaction to those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so — those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so i _ those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so i don't _ those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so i don't know— those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so i don't know why - those unfunded tax cuts? i am not an economist so i don't know why it - economist so i don't know why it happened but it appears that liz truss did not have the backing of her mps in westminster. why was that? she should have had their backing. liam fox was talking and he said that there shouldn't be a general election because the conservative party were voted in by the party on their manifesto. in that manifesto they were voted in on lowering taxes. under rishi sunak, the level of taxes in this country is the highest it has been in decades. ., is the highest it has been in decades-— is the highest it has been in decades. ., ~ ., , ,, decades. you think that rishi sunak is the ri . ht decades. you think that rishi sunak is the right person _ decades. you think that rishi sunak is the right person what _ decades. you think that rishi sunak is the right person what is - decades. you think that rishi sunak is the right person what is your - is the right person what is your reaction to what fiona is saying? i

think the conservative party is the current— think the conservative party is the current party of pragmatism. we are in a high _ current party of pragmatism. we are in a high inflation economy and so difficult _ in a high inflation economy and so difficult decisions have to be made. it is not _ difficult decisions have to be made. it is not that rishi sunak has said that he _ it is not that rishi sunak has said that he will— it is not that rishi sunak has said that he will not cut taxes in the long _ that he will not cut taxes in the long term — that he will not cut taxes in the long term but cutting taxes at this time is _ long term but cutting taxes at this time is not — long term but cutting taxes at this time is not what the economy needed. so time is not what the economy needed. 50 that— time is not what the economy needed. 50 that is— time is not what the economy needed. so that is the way that i am looking at it _ so that is the way that i am looking at it. , ,, ., ~' so that is the way that i am looking at it. , ,, ., ~ _, at it. rishi sunak coming in without. — at it. rishi sunak coming in without, some _ at it. rishi sunak coming in without, some are - at it. rishi sunak coming in without, some are saying, | at it. rishi sunak coming in | without, some are saying, a at it. rishi sunak coming in _ without, some are saying, a mandate, do you think he can unite the party? within the party he has broad support— within the party he has broad support from people who have traditionally not backed him such a suetta _ traditionally not backed him such a suella braverman. he is a uniting figure _ suella braverman. he is a uniting figure but— suella braverman. he is a uniting figure but i— suella braverman. he is a uniting figure but i do hope that it continues and the conservatives see the country— continues and the conservatives see the country through this difficult economic—

the country through this difficult economic period and i think it should — economic period and i think it should be _ economic period and i think it should be country before party at this point — should be country before party at this point. we should be country before party at this oint. ~ ., _ this point. we need to say goodbye to viewers on _ this point. we need to say goodbye to viewers on bbc— this point. we need to say goodbye to viewers on bbc world. _ this point. we need to say goodbye to viewers on bbc world. goodbye. | to viewers on bbc world. goodbye. back to you fiona you are saying that the tory party agenda to be, it was not deliverable. it doesn't necessarily mean it couldn't happen in the high inflation and what is happening with cost of living, is that basically what destroyed it? i don't know, i basically what destroyed it? i don't know. i have _ basically what destroyed it? i don't know, i have listened _ basically what destroyed it? i don't know, i have listened to _ basically what destroyed it? i don'tl know, i have listened to economists and experts and in the leadership contest and they said that liz

truss's ideas could work and similarly when the mini budget was announced and we thought it could work. we are not talking about cutting taxes in the mini budget we were talking about not raising taxes. when we see corporation tax going up to 25%, how is that going to help small businesses? after the years that we have had with covid, it will make us the least economically attractive country in the world. how will this attract businesses here? these businesses employ people and give people money to invest and save. having people keep more of their hard earned money, that goes into the economy and it will help with the cost of living problems that we have at the

moment. . ~ living problems that we have at the moment. ., ~ , ., living problems that we have at the moment. ., ~ i. living problems that we have at the moment. . ~' ,, ~ living problems that we have at the moment. ., ~ i. . ., moment. thank you both. we are live in downin: moment. thank you both. we are live in downing street _ moment. thank you both. we are live in downing street and _ moment. thank you both. we are live in downing street and there _ moment. thank you both. we are live in downing street and there are - in downing street and there are three hours remaining in this leadership contest. the momentum is behind rishi sunak who has the support of half of his party. let us catch up with the weather with karen. today we have the rain clearing away leaving us with some showers, it will be a breezy day for england and wales, less so for scotland and northern ireland. the top temperatures of 17 celsius. in the evening, they will be some clearer skies it will be breezy and there will be a few showers. it will be a mild night with temperatures of nine

celsius. tomorrow, there will be a lot of dry weather. some showers in the west that will be hit and miss. in the morning the clouds will be figure across south—west england and south wales. there will be breezy conditions with top temperatures of 18 celsius.

this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling, live from downing street, where rishi sunak is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as the uk's prime minister. he could be declared the new conservative party leader as early as this afternoon. the former chancellor has a commanding lead among conservative mps as they choose their next party leader — over half of tory mp�*s are supporting him. i think he has all the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. the race is on for rival penny mordaunt to secure the 100 backers she needs to go forward to a vote. but her supporters insist there is �*absolutely no chance' she'll be pulling out of the contest. we are feeling supremely confident this morning.

there is a lot of support for penny from colleagues. we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday. and last night, borisjohnson put an end to days of speculation about a comeback when he dramatically pulled out of the race — saying it would not be �*the right thing to do'. rishi sunak praised johnson for his achievements after he pulled out of the race nominations close at 2pm — that's when we should find out whether or not there has to be a ballot of conservative party members, or if one person will be moving straight into number ten. we'll be bringing you updates throughout the day.

good morning and welcome to bbc news. we could find out as early as this afternoon who's replacing liz truss as the uk's prime minister. tory mps have until 2pm to make their nominations for party leader and each candidate needs at least 100 backers. if only one achieves that, they'll be declared party leader today and walk through the famous black door as prime minister as soon as tomorrow. if more than one candidate hits the hundred mark, there'll be a ballot by mps later today followed by a vote of party members this week. two candidates have officially declared that they are running, rishi sunak and penny mordaunt. so far, just over 200 out of 357 tory mps have told the bbc who they'll be supporting. 180 — more than half of the parliamentary party — are backing rishi sunak, and 26 for penny mordaunt. when borisjohnson dropped out of the running last night, he claimed to have the backing of 102 mps — that support will now shift to the two remaining candidates.

mps have been declaring their support, among them the home secretary, grant shapps. he's very confident that rishi sunak is the man for the job. he has set out a very clear programme for government which he talks a lot about in the summer, and he was right on a lot of the programme including the fact we need to live within our means and we get back to traditional conservative values and making sure that peoples mortgages don't go higher than they need to because we are fiscally responsible. i think you set out his stall, his programme. colleagues have backed him in a very big way. you talked about the numbers, 150, 160 mp5 you talked about the numbers, 150, 160 mps who have backed him so far, so he has the clarity of message and, of course, the fact he was right about this when he was talking about it in the summer. he has the proven track record as the

chancellor who got us through coronavirus, so he has all of the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister if it comes to that. grant sha -s minister if it comes to that. grant shapps backing — minister if it comes to that. grant shapps backing rishi _ minister if it comes to that. grant shapps backing rishi sunak, - minister if it comes to that. grant shapps backing rishi sunak, who is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as uk prime minister and could do so by as early as this afternoon. the former chancellor's only remaining rival is the leader of the house of commons, penny mordaunt, and andrea leadsom is a penny mordaunt supporter and has been speaking in the last moments. we are feelin: speaking in the last moments. we are feeling supremely _ speaking in the last moments. we are feeling supremely confident _ speaking in the last moments. we are feeling supremely confident at - speaking in the last moments. we are feeling supremely confident at the - feeling supremely confident at the moment and there's a lot of support for penny for colic —— from colleagues and we had that suboptimal sides of the party yesterday and now that boris johnson has said he is not going to stand, a lot of his supporters are keen on penny, so many will be coming to her. what is important is that people understand that penny is a fresh face that the country needs

but also the unity candidate that the party needs. i'm joined now by our chief political correspondent nick eardley. we were just talking about the numbers and they are slowly but surely taking up behind rishi sunak. rishi sunak has more than a half of the conservative party in parliament backing him but that does not mean the races over because all you need is 100 to get on the ballot for members, but it is symbolically quite powerfulfor rishi sunak because he can now say to his party, i have the backing of the majority of mps. i have the backing of the majority of mp5. i think that adds to the pressure this lunchtime. i forget what time it is. on penny mordaunt to stand down, but i don't think she will do so imminently because her team still seem to think she can make that 100 figure and as you heard from andrea leadsom, they are determined if that happens then the conservative membership should get a

vote, but the pressure is increasing for penny mordaunt to stand aside so the party can get on with it and have rishi sunak in number ten tomorrow. i5 have rishi sunak in number ten tomorrow-— have rishi sunak in number ten tomorrow. , ., , , have rishi sunak in number ten tomorrow. , ., , tomorrow. is there any way they are talkin: tomorrow. is there any way they are talking behind _ tomorrow. is there any way they are talking behind the _ tomorrow. is there any way they are talking behind the scenes? - tomorrow. is there any way they are talking behind the scenes? because| talking behind the scenes? because the desire for there to be stability, for there to be unity but publicly we are hearing from penny mordaunt backers that they are going to carry on fighting. the mordaunt backers that they are going to carry on fighting.— to carry on fighting. the reason i'm lookin: at to carry on fighting. the reason i'm looking at my _ to carry on fighting. the reason i'm looking at my phone _ to carry on fighting. the reason i'm looking at my phone is _ to carry on fighting. the reason i'm looking at my phone is i've - to carry on fighting. the reason i'm looking at my phone is i've been i looking at my phone is i've been asking that very question about whether they might talk about whether they might talk about whether rishi sunak might offer a job to penny mordaunt to get her to stand aside. no word back from either camp on that. there's always a bit of bartering between the two sides but the impression i get speaking to team penny mordaunt they are determined to push this as far as they can go and they want to see if they can get over the line and they think if they get over the line that they have a chance with the

membership in an online vote which would have to be completed by friday and we get a new prime minister by the end of the week instead of the start of the week. on the argument they will make is that conservative members should have a say in this process. but as i say, i get the impression, chatting to tory mps, that a lot of them want this over and done with. and it's worth highlighting that the momentum is with rishi sunak this morning. when i went to bed last night, the hoped—for team penny mordaunt the hoped—for team penny mordaunt the hope was that when borisjohnson stood aside they would hoover up his vote and they would get a lot of people who did not want rishi sunak to be prime minister to move over towards her but the exact opposite has happened. rishi sunak is still getting a lot of backing, including from cabinet ministers who were loyal to mrjohnson and were extremely unhappy with mr sunak when he resigned, so that suggests to me that mr sunak has a comfortable

majority in the parliamentary party. the question is a simple one. does penny mordaunt have a 100 mps backing her, and if so, will she pushit backing her, and if so, will she push it to a vote of the conservative membership? abshd push it to a vote of the conservative membership? push it to a vote of the conservative membershi? �* , conservative membership? and if she does and there _ conservative membership? and if she does and there is _ conservative membership? and if she does and there is still— conservative membership? and if she does and there is still that _ conservative membership? and if she does and there is still that rump - conservative membership? and if she does and there is still that rump of i does and there is still that rump of the party that are not going to fall behind rishi sunak were he to become leader, what does that say about unity going forward? i leader, what does that say about unity going forward?— unity going forward? i think mr sunak always _ unity going forward? i think mr sunak always faced _ unity going forward? i think mr sunak always faced a _ unity going forward? i think mr sunak always faced a bit - unity going forward? i think mr sunak always faced a bit of - unity going forward? i think mr sunak always faced a bit of an | unity going forward? i think mr- sunak always faced a bit of an issue when it came to unity and i think he will face that issue if he is prime minister. people like nadine dorries, the former culture secretary already saying this morning that it's impossible to avoid a general election now. there are other borisjohnson loyalists who might end up in a similar place and| who might end up in a similar place and i think there will always be some who are a bit of a thorn in the side of mr sunak, but it almost feels a bit like with some cabinet ministers, some senior mps this

morning, some borisjohnson morning, some boris johnson loyalists morning, some borisjohnson loyalists that reality has hit and they think mr sunak will win and they think mr sunak will win and they have got behind him because they have got behind him because they can see the way the wind is blowing. and i reckon that is because they think it's basically unite or die. there is going to be a general election in the next two years. i think mr sunak would be the leader that leads them into the general election, but who would put money on anything just now? and if he is, he needs the backing of his cabinet ministers, those mps, so my gut instinct tells me that if mr sunak wins he will get a grace period and most of those boris johnson loyalists will fall into line behind the new leader. but not all of them. we line behind the new leader. but not all of them-— line behind the new leader. but not all of them. we are both repeatedly checkin: all of them. we are both repeatedly checking our— all of them. we are both repeatedly checking our phones _ all of them. we are both repeatedly checking our phones because - all of them. we are both repeatedly checking our phones because it - all of them. we are both repeatedly checking our phones because it is i all of them. we are both repeatedly| checking our phones because it is an indication of how much things are changing. this is a key day. we could have _ changing. this is a key day. we could have a _ changing. this is a key day. , could have a new prime minister

within the next two hours. as we say, penny mordaunt is crunching the numbers on the team will be looking at everything they have. i've asked in a couple of times in the last hour whether they think they have 100 verified mps who will sign that sheet that goes to the 1922 committee and we've not had an answer on that yet so it suggests to me that they are not quite there yet. they will be doing everything they can to get this over the line, but as i say, everything is putting in the opposite direction. rishi sunak has the momentum and his team are increasingly confident that even if it went to the membership, the extent of his support in the commons means he would win that as well. thank you. we will talk to the conservative mps mark harper who is backing rishi sunak. what is your understanding of where the numbers are now? ., ., ~ ., ., are now? good to talk to you. i had to do the same _ are now? good to talk to you. i had to do the same thing _ are now? good to talk to you. i had to do the same thing is _ are now? good to talk to you. i had to do the same thing is you, - are now? good to talk to you. i had to do the same thing is you, check| to do the same thing is you, check my phone, but i'm very pleased rishi sunak has now secured a majority of

conservative colleagues in the house of commons. that's very important because to be prime minister you have to command a majority in the house of commons. that is the basis on which you hold office so the fact he has a majority support amongst my colleagues is welcome thing indeed. when you talk about a majority and commanding a majority in the house of commons, all that we have been observing in recent weeks and months has been happening in the context of a government which has a really comfortable majority which really shows how divided the party has been and how potentially divided it continues to be.— and how potentially divided it continues to be. ., ., , continues to be. one of the reasons i am backing _ continues to be. one of the reasons i am backing rishi _ continues to be. one of the reasons i am backing rishi sunak— continues to be. one of the reasons i am backing rishi sunak and - continues to be. one of the reasons i am backing rishi sunak and did . i am backing rishi sunak and did over the summer is i think it can unite the party and the reason that is important is our primaryjob as members of parliament is to govern in the national interest and think about the public, and we can only do that if we are working together as a team, and i've been very heartened over the weekend to see the breadth

of support of those colleagues from across the conservative party supporting rishi sunak and he's made it very clear in the statement issued yesterday that if he is successful stay and become spry minister, he will appoint a government that draws on all of the talents in the conservative party from all of our traditions to build a united team that can then take those difficult decisions to focus on governing for the public, and thatis on governing for the public, and that is why i would be very pleased if he was able to succeed today. you talk about focusing on governing for the public and i'm reading comments from former tory mp david lidington who has written that the party has appeared incompetent, tin eared and obsessed with the party's prospects at the time millions of households are worried sick about how to meet their bills forfood, are worried sick about how to meet their bills for food, fuel and housing and he talked about the rage amongst a growing number of the public that the party is no longer thinking first about the national

interest. do you think that is fair? i think the last few weeks particularly have been difficult so i wouldn't be surprised if a lot of voters thought that, but as i said, the priority for all of us in public life is to think about the public interest first, and the country first and that is why i very much welcome the fact that rishi sunak has said if he is elected as prime minister by parliamentary colleagues, he will build a broad—based government so we can focus together as a conservative team on putting the country's interests first and delivering the 2019 manifesto, which is the basis on which the public gave us that majority in the house of commons, and i think that's a really important thing for him to have said yesterday are no doubt why he has secured the support of a majority of conservative mps in the house of commons. conservative mps in the house of commons-— conservative mps in the house of commons. ., ., ~ ., commons. you talk about delivering the 2019 manifesto, _ commons. you talk about delivering the 2019 manifesto, but _ commons. you talk about delivering the 2019 manifesto, but so - commons. you talk about delivering the 2019 manifesto, but so much . commons. you talk about delivering | the 2019 manifesto, but so much has happened it is hard to even remember what was in that and what you mean when you talk about delivering that,

but certainly when rishi sunak was chancellor he was talking potentially about tax cuts and during the leadership contest he said he would very much he during the leadership contest he said he would very much be focusing on inflation before delivering tax cuts, and now we know the territory we are in is that there is a huge black hole in government spending thatis black hole in government spending that is going to mean probably public spending cuts on a large scale and more tax increases. so when you talk about delivering to the people, what you mean by that at a time when people are struggling and making very difficult decisions around the cost of living? the thing ou 'ust around the cost of living? the thing you just highlighted _ around the cost of living? the thing you just highlighted from _ around the cost of living? the thing you just highlighted from that - around the cost of living? the thing you just highlighted from that list l you just highlighted from that list of challenges is dealing with the economic challenges and as rishi said during the summer, the number one challenge for people is to deal with inflation. inflation is what is making everyone poorer and also what is pushing up interest rates and therefore mortgage rates, so getting a grip of inflation is the most important thing. the bank of england

has the primary responsibility for doing that but it's job will be made easier if the government sorts out its fiscal policy, taxes and spending to work with the bank of england and drive down inflation. the faster we can get inflation under control, the faster that interest rates can be under control and that is good for families and their budgets and for getting us back into a position where, long term, we can cut taxes which, as a conservative, we all want to do that we can only do it when it is sustainable and when you pay for it. i spoke to one former member of the tory party, and i say former because you voted for liz truss as leader and she has now left the party because she said the party is no longer a conservative party and she wants to see that agenda you are talking about for the future now, and unless the party is prepared to do that, you are not a tory party any more. i do that, you are not a tory party any more-— do that, you are not a tory party an more. ~ ., any more. i think we saw over the last few weeks — any more. i think we saw over the last few weeks that _ any more. i think we saw over the last few weeks that we _ any more. i think we saw over the last few weeks that we all - any more. i think we saw over the last few weeks that we all have i last few weeks that we all have aspirations in the conservative party to reduce taxes, to allow

people to keep more of their own money but the strain of conservatism i believe in and rishi sunak believes in is about being pragmatic and facing reality. the conservative party has been the most successful party in the history of the country because we look at the country as it is. the challenges we face, and we deal with them, but with our principles in mind and we saw an example of what happens if you don't properly take into account reality, it doesn't end very well. and that is why rishi sunak will be the right person to be prime minister, because he understands you have to work with the challenges you face, with your principles, but you have to deal with the world as it is and i think he will be supremely well—equipped to do so if he is elected as prime this week. to do so if he is elected as prime this week-— to do so if he is elected as prime this week. n, ~ ., , ., ~ , ., this week. mark harper, thank you ve much this week. mark harper, thank you very much for— this week. mark harper, thank you very much forjoining _ this week. mark harper, thank you very much forjoining us. _ labour and the snp are calling for a general election. labour's emily thornberry said the conservative leadership selection process was undemocratic.

70% of the public want to have a general election and there is a good reason for that. why on earth should a small group of people in westminster the deciding the fate of our nation. we are supposed to be a democracy, and they can'tjust keep changing leader all the time and not go back for some kind of mandate. in fact, some of the tory mps did seem to understand that, i suppose, in a way, in their used as an argument for why they had to support boris johnson, because at least he had led the conservative party in 2019 when they got the majority, but the other side of the coin was they were saying and therefore rishi sunak or whoever would not have a democratic mandate. well, yeah. which is why we need to have an election. we should not be allowing this government to crash our economy, because a crisis, get somebody else in, i can do better. we don't know if rishi sunak gets the crown today that he won't

of been elected by tory mps or by the tory membership or let alone by the tory membership or let alone by the public, he won't even have been facing the media in advance of getting the crown. he won't be telling us, for example, whether he agrees with jeremy telling us, for example, whether he agrees withjeremy hunt, whether jeremy hunt will be his chancellor next week, whether he will be going ahead with the same policies as jeremy hunt. we have no idea. it's a complete leap into the blue, so to speak. it shouldn't be like this. just to come in. we are a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential system, and there are many, many precedents under labour as well for new leaders coming in mid—term without an election. you mid-term without an election. you saw it change _ mid-term without an election. you saw it change of— mid—term without an election. gm. saw it change of leader once under labour and we changed from blair to brown, and brown was the chancellor and i stood in 2005 and the tories were saying vote for tony blair, you

get gordon brown, well, of course you would, because everybody knew that. i you would, because everybody knew that. ., ., ., ., ., , that. i want to move on from this ointless that. i want to move on from this pointless there's _ that. i want to move on from this pointless there's more _ that. i want to move on from this pointless there's more to - that. i want to move on from this pointless there's more to discussj that. i want to move on from this i pointless there's more to discuss -- pointless there's more to discuss —— because there's more to discuss, but rishi sunak was chancellor not so long ago. but rishi sunak was chancellor not so lona auo. �* ., , rishi sunak was chancellor not so lonauao. �* , , long ago. but he was completely unknown in _ long ago. but he was completely unknown in 2019 _ long ago. but he was completely unknown in 2019 and _ long ago. but he was completely unknown in 2019 and we - long ago. but he was completely unknown in 2019 and we have i long ago. but he was completely| unknown in 2019 and we have had long ago. but he was completely i unknown in 2019 and we have had this swinging of policies. in the end, its policies that matter and we've had one government standing but one lot of policies and then another lot of policies from another government and they keep saying there are new governments but we don't get any democratic choice over whether this is a government we want. it doesn't have to be this way. there is an alternative and the public are crying out for change. why aren't they allowed to have that? before we talk about labour _ they allowed to have that? before we talk about labour policies, _ they allowed to have that? before we talk about labour policies, and i they allowed to have that? before we talk about labour policies, and it i talk about labour policies, and it may well be there as a general election imminently and we don't know the maximum time frame for the next election as it is two years but before that, you talk about stability, so it is an election now going to deliver stability? how

would it do that? it would be more political uncertainty. put would it do that? it would be more political uncertainty.— political uncertainty. put it this wa . if political uncertainty. put it this way- if we _ political uncertainty. put it this way. if we had _ political uncertainty. put it this way. if we had a _ political uncertainty. put it this way. if we had a general i political uncertainty. put it this l way. if we had a general election after borisjohnson had gone we would have a labour government by now, we would not have even had liz truss and the crashing of the economy and it would have been completely different, so they cause a crisis and says we can't have an election because we caused a crisis but we have to fix it but we won't tell you how. . none of this bears true inspection. all of it. and we are just accepting that somehow or other this is all right and what is happening today is ok, but it's not. in terms of where labour stands, what would be in your manifesto if there were to suddenly he an election? what would you do on the economy? we election? what would you do on the econom ? ~ ., , ., , , economy? we have short terms things we would do- — economy? we have short terms things we would do- we _ economy? we have short terms things we would do. we would _ economy? we have short terms things we would do. we would have - economy? we have short terms things we would do. we would have a - we would do. we would have a windfall tax on the big energy companies. we shouldn't be allowing them to get away with making such massive great profits because prices have gone up so much. we should be

having a tax on them and using that money to help keep the bills low. i appreciate the conservative say they are keeping the bills low for a certain period of time but they are only doing it on the basis of borrowing. more and more billions of pounds and in the end of the money needs to be paid back and it needs to be paid back by us. this crisis caused by downing street is being paid for by working people. it's not right. that will be one of the first things we would do and we would be able to come in as a stable government. it's quite clear who our leader is and who our chancellor would be and you would get a stability and we would be a proper, grown—up government and we would be able to bring in a period of calm. we would stabilise public finances, we would make sure we paid our way properly and then we have long—term plans for growing our economy by growing our economy in a proper way, not making the rich richer and somehow the poor will benefit by trickling down money, or whatever the nonsenses. we would be growing

our economy by making sure that we were really firing on all cylinders when it came to the green economy, when it came to the green economy, when it came to the green economy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to alternative energy, when it comes to having green, clean energy by 2030. when it comes to having green, clean energy by 2030-— energy by 2030. there are some in the tory party _ energy by 2030. there are some in the tory party who _ energy by 2030. there are some in the tory party who also _ energy by 2030. there are some in the tory party who also say - energy by 2030. there are some in the tory party who also say that i the tory party who also say that there needs to be a general election. what do the pollsters say about what is happening? tom lubbock is a co—founder of the polling companyj l partners. hejoins me now. thanks forjoining us. first of all, and how the public would row in behind rishi sunak or penny mordaunt, what are the indications? good to talk to you. we had a poll in the sunday times this week that showed that the labour lead was cut to ii showed that the labour lead was cut to 11 points on the rishi sunak and under penny mordaunt, it would be 22 points. the thing to remember is

that rishi sunak was, for long periods of the pandemic, the most popular politician in the country by some distance, even more popular than borisjohnson when he was quite popular, so i think there's a lot of upside potentialfor popular, so i think there's a lot of upside potential for rishi popular, so i think there's a lot of upside potentialfor rishi sunak. the public really do give a new prime minister the benefit of the doubt and we see that over and over again. but doubt and we see that over and over aaain. �* , ., doubt and we see that over and over aaain. �* ,, . doubt and we see that over and over aaain. �* i. ., ., ., ~ doubt and we see that over and over aaain. �* ., ., ., ~ ., again. but you are not talking about someone being _ again. but you are not talking about someone being in _ again. but you are not talking about someone being in a _ again. but you are not talking about someone being in a position - again. but you are not talking about someone being in a position to i again. but you are not talking about someone being in a position to win l someone being in a position to win with the public. it'sjust someone being in a position to win with the public. it's just a someone being in a position to win with the public. it'sjust a reduced loss to labour, according to the polling you have got. yang yes, it's extremely difficult position for any conservative politician at moment, but that is where the game begins. the new prime minister is going to have to get a grip of the economy and start to convince the public that they really are competent and can manage the economy. if that is the case and there are some green shoots coming out of the spring then the public are likely to close that

gap and you will see the conservatives get much, much closer to labour and the thing to remember is the public have not made up their mind on keir starmer. they are not convinced. he has not sealed the deal. we see that over and over again in focus groups so there is also playful, i think. what we saw with liz truss and her economics was an ideological gap between the tories and labour that set out different prospects for voters. now there is not such a gap, is there? in terms of what happens with the economy and where people and what is in their pockets, what happens with that in terms of public polling? it's a really good point and when economics is turned on its head and there is only a narrow path forward, it becomes about competence and it becomes what we call a salience election or salience race, and it

will be about who the public trusts most to run the economy, who do they trust most to run the government competently, and that is what the new prime minister has to establish, and the backdrop might be very, very difficult, but there's every opportunity they might well do that. how forgiving are the public? you talk about the economic competence and what we saw with the mini budget and what we saw with the mini budget and the complete sledgehammer that was taken to it. can that easily get forgotten? it’s was taken to it. can that easily get foruotten? v . was taken to it. can that easily get foruotten? �*, ., ., , was taken to it. can that easily get foruotten? v . . , ' . forgotten? it's a really difficult auestion forgotten? it's a really difficult question for — forgotten? it's a really difficult question for us _ forgotten? it's a really difficult question for us because i forgotten? it's a really difficult question for us because we i forgotten? it's a really difficult| question for us because we can forgotten? it's a really difficult i question for us because we can see the conservative party's numbers have taken a real hit but the public do tend to see politics through the lens of who is the leader of the parties at any one time, so a change of prime minister, even under the unusual circumstances, does give the option for a reset and you would have to say there will be some. now how much they can bring those conservative party numbers back—up

for competence, economic management and sharing people's values we will see, but definitely the public will give them the benefit of the doubt, as i say. give them the benefit of the doubt, as i sa . . ~ give them the benefit of the doubt, asisa. ., ~ give them the benefit of the doubt, asisa. .,~ , give them the benefit of the doubt, asisa. .mg , . give them the benefit of the doubt, asisa. .mg, , . ., as i say. thank you very much. you can see the — as i say. thank you very much. you can see the steps _ as i say. thank you very much. you can see the steps of _ as i say. thank you very much. you can see the steps of 10 _ as i say. thank you very much. you can see the steps of 10 downing i can see the steps of 10 downing street behind me, larry, he has been the constant through the political coming and goings and he's waiting for them to open the door. it came out and did a tour of the very large gathering ofjournalists in downing street because of course the focus here, as we wait to hear what happens in the leadership contest. let's remind ourselves of the process to choose a new conservative leader and british prime minister. as we said, we may find out who's replacing liz truss as early as this afternoon. conservative mps have until 2pm this afternoon to nominate their preferred candidate. each candidate needs at least 100 nominations — if only one of them achieves that, they'll be declared leader and prime

minister. if there's two mps will then hold an indicative vote on the two finalists, before the choice is handed to the conservative membership in the country, who will vote online. if that happens, the new party leader and prime minister will be declared on friday. with me now is laura silver, the editor of the online news website politics home. welcome. do you think we will go through that process? i welcome. do you think we will go through that process?— welcome. do you think we will go through that process? i don't know. lookin: at through that process? i don't know. looking at the _ through that process? i don't know. looking at the numbers _ through that process? i don't know. looking at the numbers at - through that process? i don't know. looking at the numbers at the i looking at the numbers at the moment, penny mordaunt, in terms of declared mps, she was nowhere near the hundred so there is a strong chance she will pull out before we get to 2pm and rishi sunak definitely does have the numbers, so, yeah, we would be with rishi sunak. i think the gamble she is taking at the moment if you can take a lot of the support that was supposedly for boris johnson because she has more of supposedly for borisjohnson because she has more of an supposedly for boris johnson because she has more of an affiliation with the right of the party and if she gets onto the ballot, she would hopefully be able to win over a lot of the membership support. but she

currently only _ of the membership support. but she currently only has _ of the membership support. but she currently only has 26 _ of the membership support. but she currently only has 26 supporters i currently only has 26 supporters that the bbc can verify, so it's not looking like those boris backers are going her way. looking like those boris backers are going herway. ida. looking like those boris backers are going herway— going her way. no, exactly, and unless she _ going her way. no, exactly, and unless she is _ going her way. no, exactly, and unless she is confident - going her way. no, exactly, and unless she is confident she i going her way. no, exactly, and unless she is confident she has | going her way. no, exactly, and| unless she is confident she has a lot of undeclared support before two o'clock, it's a short amount of time and we've had very significant boris johnson backers, priti patel, nadeem zahavi, who rowed in behind rishi sunak, so the idea she has some undeclared voters is unlikely at the moment. ~ . , undeclared voters is unlikely at the moment. ~ ., , , ., undeclared voters is unlikely at the moment. ~ ., , , , ., moment. what is your sense of whether the — moment. what is your sense of whether the tory _ moment. what is your sense of whether the tory party - moment. what is your sense of whether the tory party can i moment. what is your sense of| whether the tory party can unite going forward and govern with stability and go to the country at a time of their choosing within the next two years?— time of their choosing within the next two years? which is the big challen . e next two years? which is the big challenge for _ next two years? which is the big challenge for them _ next two years? which is the big challenge for them now - next two years? which is the big challenge for them now and i i next two years? which is the big l challenge for them now and i think it's very difficult to know if that is the case. i would say the fact rishi sunak has managed to get a lot of declared support suggests he is the unity candidate but there are a lot of people who were behind boris johnson who see him as a backstabber because of what happened in the summer but i think probably the fact

that a lot of his detractors did not like his tax rises over the summer and he has been vindicated over that now, so may be given the instability and drama we've had in the last week that rishi sunak is in a better position to say you can trust me now and go forward. i position to say you can trust me now and go forward-— and go forward. i read one unnamed insider say that _ and go forward. i read one unnamed insider say that if _ and go forward. i read one unnamed insider say that if the _ and go forward. i read one unnamed insider say that if the tories - insider say that if the tories cannot unite and go to the general election, it's effectively like turkey is notjust voting for christmas but turning on the oven and laying the table. why is it so difficult for them to unite behind one candidate? i difficult for them to unite behind one candidate?— difficult for them to unite behind one candidate? i think the party is divided into _ one candidate? i think the party is divided into so _ one candidate? i think the party is divided into so many _ one candidate? i think the party is divided into so many different i divided into so many different factions at this point and we've had so many divisive issues in the last few years. we are in a difficult economic times so rishi sunak would argue tax rises make sense but that is such a nonconservative view and there's very little difference between what labour and the conservative party are proposing, so how do marry traditional conservatism with doing what the country needs at the moment in these

unprecedented signs? that is the thing that rishi sunak tackled through the pandemic and why he ended up being called a socialist during the leadership campaign last time which is not what he is by any stretch of the definition, i suppose, but those of a kind of policies needed in these economic climate. it policies needed in these economic climate. . , , policies needed in these economic climate. ., , , ., , . climate. it has been a mixed picture because exactly _ climate. it has been a mixed picture because exactly that _ climate. it has been a mixed picture because exactly that state _ because exactly that state intervention because of covid and also the support for the energy bills and what we saw with liz truss was that enormous, larger than anyone had spoken about, support from the state for individuals through the energy crisis. but at the same time, trying to shrink the size of the state with the tax cuts. where does the party stand now? some are saying they effectively need some time out to decide exactly what they stand for. that will be the big question that whoever wins the leadership has to answer correctly next monday with the fiscal statement and everything

in liz truss' budget has been rolled back, so how do they keep conservatism on side? but then plug this giant financial gap and play pay for the energy really that can't get rid of. come up with something that answers what they will do in april when that is away, which will be very upsetting for voters. in theory we could end up with an election at that point.— theory we could end up with an election at that point. thank you very much- _ election at that point. thank you very much- we _ election at that point. thank you very much. we have _ election at that point. thank you very much. we have still- election at that point. thank you very much. we have still got i election at that point. thank you very much. we have still got to l election at that point. thank you i very much. we have still got to get to the end of this particular election, which is due, the ballot is due to close at 2pm. whether we get news before that, it is not completely sure. for now there are two candidates are still in the race, penny mordaunt and rishi sunak. momentum very strongly behind rishi sunak but penny mordaunt�*s cap saying they are not going anywhere and will stick it out. we have to wait and see as the clock ticks on, two and a half hours to go until the polling closes. you are watching bbc

news. rishi sunak is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as the uk's prime minister. he could be declared the new conservative party leader as early as this afternoon. the former chancellor has a commanding lead among conservative mps as they choose their next party leader — over half of tory mps are supporting him. i think he has all the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. the race is on for rival penny mordaunt to secure the 100 backers she needs to go forward to a vote. but her supporters insist there is 'absolutely no chance' she'll be pulling out of the contest. we are feeling supremely confident this morning. there is a lot of support for penny from colleagues. we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday. and last night borisjohnson put an end to days of speculation about a comeback when he dramatically pulled out of the race — saying it would not be "the right thing to do".

rishi sunak praised johnson for his achievements after he pulled out of the race for his achievements nominations close at 2pm — that's when we should find out whether or not there has to be a ballot of conservative party members — or if one person will be moving straight into number ten. we'll be bringing you updates throughout the day. hello! let's start with f1 because — amid talk of a hollywood movie being made about the sport — the us grand prix turned up with one of the best races of the season. max verstappen — the world champion — won again to equal the record for the most wins in a single season, despite a delay in his final pit stop handing lewis hamilton the lead. he regained it, though, to win his 13th, and saw red bull take the construtors championship on the weekend the team heard of the death of team owner

dietrich mateschitz, the red bull founder. i couldn't have done anything better, i don't think, today. i'm really proud of myself in that respect, proud mating, pit stops were great, strategy was great. we gave everything we could. are fighting against a team that is 10k faster than us on the straight and ultimately have won almost all the races. so for us to even be in the equation, i think, races. so for us to even be in the equation, ithink, is races. so for us to even be in the equation, i think, is a races. so for us to even be in the equation, ithink, is a huge positive and... lots of positives to take from today. and an emotional rory mcilroy is back on top of the world. for the ninth time in his career he tops the world rankings after his victory in the cj cup in south carolina, for the first time in two years. it means a lot. you know, i've worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this,

to this place. ifeel like i'm enjoying the game as much as i ever have. i absolutely love the game of golf. and i think that, you know, i go out there and i play with thatjoy, you know, it's definitely showed over these last 12 months. but, yeah, it feels awesome. i'm looking forward to celebrating with my team tonight, and, you know, the next couple of weeks, because i think it's a big achievement. i'm really proud of myself right now, and i want to go and enjoy this. rain has delayed t20 world cup match between south africa and zimbabwe. this is the first game in the super 12s for both sides. there was player earlier this morning. bangladesh completed a nine run victory over the netherlands. 38 from 27 as bangladesh posted 144—8. the netherlands lost two wickets with the first two balls and were bowled out. this is bangladesh's first ever win outside of the first

round of the men's t20 world cup. newcastle are starting to upset the big boys — that's according to alan shearer. they are into the top four, for the first time in a decade. all thanks to callum wilson, scoring first after clashing with the spurs keeper hugo lloris. a nice calm finish from the striker, chipping it in. it was soon two, with miguel almiron scoring before spurs pulled one back. a lot�*s been written about the saudi billions behind the club — yet this win was acheived with more than half the players who were there before the takeover. they are seven points behind arsenal — who, despite their 1—1 draw with southampton, remain top of the table. granit xhaka opened the scoring, before stuart armstrong finished off a great move, to level it in the second half. it means their lead over manchester city is just two points now.

arsenal and manchester united cannot be separated at the top of the wsl. arsenal went into the lead 2—0. elsehwere, united beat leicester, four wins from four. chelsea join them at the top after beating brighton, but they have played a game more. that's all the sport for now. i'll be back this afternoon. back to downing street. thank you very much. the clock is ticking on the time that nominations close for who will be the next tory party leader, the next prime minister. the nominations close at two bm and current let the momentum very clearly behind rishi sunak, who has the support of more than half of the parliamentary party. the other contender, penny mordaunt, has publicly 26 mps backing her, although her camp say she has more than that and she is going nowhere. let's talk about it. sebastien payne is from the financial times. what is yoursense is from the financial times. what is your sense of where things are

going? your sense of where things are auoin ? , your sense of where things are oiiin ? , ' ., , your sense of where things are auoin ? , ~ ., , , going? the big mo is with rishi sunak, going? the big mo is with rishi sunak. over — going? the big mo is with rishi sunak, over half _ going? the big mo is with rishi sunak, over half of _ going? the big mo is with rishi| sunak, over half of conservative going? the big mo is with rishi i sunak, over half of conservative mps backing his candidacy. it is a question of when not if he wins the contest. all eyes are on penny mordaunt and what is going on with her camp because at the moment she only has 26 declared public supporters. throughout this morning her team have been saying we have got the numbers, we can hit 100 we are going to keep going but where are going to keep going but where are those numbers? they are not publicly declared and the general senseis publicly declared and the general sense is that maybe she hasn't got much like we saw with borisjohnson. insisting they have enough but again those names not appearing. the question is will she pull out at this stage and end the contest today was another has been a striking tweet from george freeman, the four mid—size minster, 1p mordaunt�*s biggest supporters. he has explained why he was back in carry one tweet and then in the second one says, the question is, i would best served by

having unity and everyone rallying behind rishi sunak or a contest with the members? mr freeman is not calling on penny mordaunt to withdraw but it sounds like he is thinking in that direction. you have a big split within her team, those who say she should fight on, she can still win it, but others who i think would say it is a bit of a perfect read because if that happens over half of the mps are backing rishi sunak and how could you have unity in the parliamentary party? it does feel as if it is pretty much done and dusted for a missed. the penny mordaunt can _ and dusted for a missed. the penny mordaunt can by — and dusted for a missed. the penny mordaunt can by saying _ and dusted for a missed. the penny mordaunt can by saying they - and dusted for a missed. the penny mordaunt can by saying they have i mordaunt can by saying they have over at 90 nominations. still not 100. it is interesting they are saying that because the messaging has been that we can do it, but we are not that far off the clock stopping and they still don't have it. ., ., ., , , ., it. indeed. you have to remember you have to look — it. indeed. you have to remember you have to look at — it. indeed. you have to remember you have to look at what _ it. indeed. you have to remember you have to look at what the _ it. indeed. you have to remember you have to look at what the public - have to look at what the public names either and there are various tallies online that show public names versus private names. i would recall what happened over the

weekend when we were told several times that borisjohnson had 100 names and then borisjohnson pulled out and he said he had 102 names. a lot of scepticism among conservative mps over whether that was the case. if penny mordaunt has 90 names then if penny mordaunt has 90 names then i would say, whereby they? that is a long way off the 26 that are in public. with this shadow—boxing that is going on, a lot is about political standing, a lot about dignity but if mr sunak is going to win, penny mordaunt will want to try to secure a big job, secreting apperception that she has a lot of names is pretty key.— apperception that she has a lot of names is pretty key. going back to what ou names is pretty key. going back to what you are _ names is pretty key. going back to what you are saying _ names is pretty key. going back to what you are saying about - names is pretty key. going back to what you are saying about george| what you are saying about george freeman, even if she secures the 100, it's only like george freeman, one of her key backers, were to come out and say actually, for the good of the party, this contest needs to stop here, it stops it in its tracks. , ., , ., ., tracks. exactly. you will start to see that because _ tracks. exactly. you will start to see that because if— tracks. exactly. you will start to see that because if it _ tracks. exactly. you will start to see that because if it will i see that because if it will ultimately be missed at sunak, why spend five more days discussing this when we have huge economic problems,

that fiscal statement on october 31, and if the contest ends today there can be a new cabinet in place tonight and they can get on with those very difficult tax and spending decisions that will be required by the new prime minister and the next chancellor, who we assume will still bejeremy hunt, but still big decisions for the next cabinet to make. i think most senior conservatives ijust cabinet to make. i think most senior conservatives i just thinking cabinet to make. i think most senior conservatives ijust thinking it will be better for everyone if penny mordaunt steps aside, does a deal with rishi sunak and the whole thing comes to an end sooner rather than later. it comes to an end sooner rather than later. , , ., ., ., .., , later. it will be yet again a case of hittini later. it will be yet again a case of hitting the — later. it will be yet again a case of hitting the ground _ later. it will be yet again a case of hitting the ground running i of hitting the ground running because it is a week until that fiscal statement on the 31st. we don't know what rishi sunak is planning. we knew what he was talking about before everything has unfolded as it has done. what is yoursense unfolded as it has done. what is your sense of where things will go, how much will be spelt out on spending cuts and choices on taxation? ~ spending cuts and choices on taxation?— spending cuts and choices on taxation? ~ , , taxation? well, it will be very difficult for _ taxation? well, it will be very difficult for whoever - taxation? well, it will be very difficult for whoever it - taxation? well, it will be very difficult for whoever it is i taxation? well, it will be very i

difficult for whoever it is because it is about £40 billion created by trussonomics and the outgoing prime minister and that will have to be met with a combination of tax rises and spending cuts, there is no way to make the sums add up with just one. that is the opposite of what liz truss promised when she became prime minister. that will be difficult. combined with the fact there is a huge injury, big issues in northern ireland with at the deadline for an assembly and the next days, which could lead to new elections in stormont, plus legislation around the northern ireland protocol. the continued war in ukraine, the cost—of—living crisis, energy questions, privatisation of travel, you name it, across the board there is a lot of policy thing is to be done, and the question if it is mr coutu, is what is that government going to feel like —— mr sunak? he has a huge range of support from the left of the tory party and from the likes of jeremy hunt, all the way through to suella braverman, very much the right flank of the tories. the

question is, what platform will protect those two things together? you saw from the former home secretary, an endorsement article, talking about platform of challenging the european convention on human rights, continuing with the rwanda plant, trying to reduce net migration, and so mr coutu has got elements from the left but also from the right —— mr sunak. litgfe elements from the left but also from the right -- mr sunak.— the right -- mr sunak. we will talk about the numbers _ the right -- mr sunak. we will talk about the numbers and _ the right -- mr sunak. we will talk about the numbers and how- the right -- mr sunak. we will talk about the numbers and how they l the right -- mr sunak. we will talk i about the numbers and how they stack up about the numbers and how they stack up because it became a two horse race after borisjohnson announced last night he would not stand, and by that point he had gathered more than 50 public backers by that point he had gathered more than 50 public hackers and said at that point that there were 100 to backing him and they of course when needing to going to decide if it would be penny mordaunt what rishi sunak they would fall in behind. let's give you the bbc tally. rishi

sunak has more than half of the parliamentary party, significantly more than the 100 needed to enter the ballot. symbolic, also. penny mordaunt still appears to be some way off the 100 threshold. she has 26 that the bbc has verified although in the last few moments her team has said she had gone beyond 90. 100 is the magic number to get on the ballot. joining me now is danny rye, professor of politics at liverpool hope university. welcome. thank you forjoining us. george freeman, one of penny mordaunt�*s keanu baccus, has tweeted to say the question is, what is best going forward in terms of mandate? is it best of the vote goes to the tory party, the wider tory party, or that it gets settled now, today, what is your view? for that it gets settled now, today, what is your view?— what is your view? for the parliamentary _ what is your view? for the | parliamentary conservative what is your view? for the i parliamentary conservative party they will want to settle this as soon as possible, or at least for most of them, because they will need

as much unity as possible within the party and the new party leader, whoever that might be, and it looks very much like it will be rishi sunak, will need to engage in some very good management. they will need to be able to include why don't wings of the party and hold it together as best they can because it is a very divided party, they are very divided on some key issues, there are noises being made about having an election even amongst the tory backbenchers. so calming the party will be as important to the new leader as calming the markets. they will have to try and resist calls for a general election at least until they can calm things down a bit. least until they can calm things down a bit-— down a bit. when we look historically, _ down a bit. when we look historically, the _ down a bit. when we look historically, the pattern i down a bit. when we look- historically, the pattern would down a bit. when we look— historically, the pattern would seem to be that there is no limit on how

long a party can remain in power but it gets to the point where the infighting, the ideological conflict, becomes too much and it is almost like there needs to be a period of opposition to get a grip on what the party stands for, where it is going forward. do you think that we are in that sort of territory or do you think the tories can pull it back, can come if there is stability under rishi sunak, and they can hold off a general election footing, they could potentially keep going? litgfe footing, they could potentially keep iioin ? ~ ., footing, they could potentially keep iioin? ~ ., ., footing, they could potentially keep oiiin?. ., ., ., , going? we do have a very divided -a and going? we do have a very divided party and it _ going? we do have a very divided party and it seems _ going? we do have a very divided party and it seems they _ going? we do have a very divided party and it seems they want i going? we do have a very divided party and it seems they want to l going? we do have a very divided . party and it seems they want to have it out about where they stand. brexit has been a real shock to the party, which is what this shows, and there are various wings of the party, the libertarian wing, once

represented by liz truss. they have their moments and that has failed and those people are still there. you have the sort of... i suppose traditional thatcherites. sometimes they are called one nation but they are really more like traditional thatcherites. people likejeremy hunt. those who kind of follow the cameron, osborne approach to economics and politics. and rishi sunak is to hold these together. you have the red wallers who were much more aligned with borisjohnson, his relatively statist instincts. these are very sort of a different kind of factions within the party that will need to be held together. the nearest equivalent i can think of historically isjim callaghan

between 1976 and 1979. he was the leader of a very, very divided labour party at the time on all sorts of very major issues. and he managed actually to muddle along for three years without a majority in the house of commons and sustain a government for that period of time, which by the standards we see now looks miraculous. now, given that the conservatives have a 70 seat majority, you would think that that would be possible but it will take very clever management and of course jim callaghan lost quite badly in 1979 a precedent that perhaps they will not want to follow.— will not want to follow. professor at danny rye. — will not want to follow. professor at danny rye, thank— will not want to follow. professor at danny rye, thank you - will not want to follow. professor at danny rye, thank you very - will not want to follow. professor l at danny rye, thank you very much forjoining us. we were talking a few moments about the events that will continue to play out and that is the next thing on the agenda

after this, the fiscal statement, a week away, the 31st of october. we are hearing from liz truss as multi are hearing from liz truss as multi a team that they are continuing to work on that statement so that it is ready to go if the new prime minister decide to go ahead with it, and of course currently it would be delivered byjeremy hunt, the chancellor, the fourth chancellor in recent months, after there was rishi sunak, nadhim zahawi, quasi—kiting and thenjeremy hunt. —— kwasi kwarteng. the question of course, will he still be chancellor, jeremy hunt? suggestions are that he will be and potentially there would be others brought into the team around him. that is all still ahead because today the focus is very much on the leadership race and we are just over two hours away from the ballot closing and that is when we will find out, unless we hear before

that, whether or not penny mordaunt does indeed have enough votes to get on the ballot alongside rishi sunak. we are... i am not sure what we are doing next. we are going to hearjoe black. good morning. we are here in corby in northamptonshire, 90 miles away from a sinister, and i am standing next to the statue of the steel man, this is a town built on steel will stop you might note that thousands of workers used to work in the steelworks here in northamptonshire. it has been slimmed down now, there are around 500 workers who still make steel at this town but obviously not as big as it used to be. this is traditionally a labour seat but there is a tory mp here at the moment with a very decent majority, and has been tory in recent years, but we have come here today to talk to people. as you can

see from the town centre, it is quite busy. it is half term, lots of families out and about doing some shopping. we have spoken to some voters here today, talked to them about what they would like to see from the next prime minister. a couple of boris fans. one man said he was very disappointed to hear the news yesterday that boris had stepped back from the contest stopped i spoke to one lady who is retired, who said she wanted to see stability on the financial markets. she has children who are worried about their mortgages, she is obviously worried about her pension. she doesn't really mind who is actually taking the seat as prime minister, but shejust actually taking the seat as prime minister, but she just wanted it sorted soon and she wanted some stability and i spoke to another gentleman who said he thought that rishi sunak would be good as prime minister. but the main sense here is that people want it sorted as soon as possible. thank you very much, jo black.

let's bring in nick. number is changing by the moment, what is the latest of the moment, what is the latest of the latest from penny mordaunt�*s team is they say they have more than 90 votes in team is they say they have more than 90 vote ,., , team is they say they have more than 90 vote ,. , . ., ., 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that _ 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that we — 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that. we have _ 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that. we have not _ 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that. we have not seen - 90 votes in the bag but we cannot verify that. we have not seen the | verify that. we have not seen the names, to public account is considerably lower, under 30 at the moment but team mordaunt are saying they have more than 90 votes and they have more than 90 votes and they are using that to appeal to conservative mps this lunchtime, to say to them... lend us your vote or come over to our side and we will put it to the membership. pretty clearfrom speaking to put it to the membership. pretty clear from speaking to team mordaunt that they intend to see this through if they get over the 100. don't know for sure if they will. they have, what, a couple of hours left, to get another ten votes or so stop let's see what happens over the next couple of hours. what we can say with certainty, and you can see the numbers on your screen just now, 185

conservative mps are now officially backing rishi sunak. that is a lot, more than half, and means that mr sunak can now say he has the backing of the majority of the conservative party in parliament. i think that will really matter, if this does go to a membership ballot, because the mood among tory mps to a membership ballot, because the mood among tory mp5 i have been talking to is they want to persuade their members that there is someone they can get behind, and mr sunak will say that is him. we have a couple of hours before we know exactly what will happen. it feels like team mordaunt are frantically trying to find those last votes among conservative mps, wejust trying to find those last votes among conservative mps, we just have to see. i among conservative mps, we 'ust have to see. . , among conservative mps, we 'ust have to see. .,, . ~ among conservative mps, we 'ust have to see. ., ., ~ ., among conservative mps, we 'ust have to see. ., ~ ., ,, to see. i was talking to sebastien pa ne to see. i was talking to sebastien payne from _ to see. i was talking to sebastien payne from the _ to see. i was talking to sebastien payne from the financial- to see. i was talking to sebastien payne from the financial times i to see. i was talking to sebastien | payne from the financial times he was saying that george freeman is saying that the question that they need to consider is notjust about the numbers, but whether democracy is best served by, and unity, is

best served by everyone pulling together now, or whether best served by pushing forward into going to a vote amongst the wider party. he is a key figure in the mordaunt campaign. pa, a key figure in the mordaunt campaign-— a key figure in the mordaunt camaiun. , . , , a key figure in the mordaunt camaiun. , ., , , campaign. a very early bucket both times -- a — campaign. a very early bucket both times -- a very _ campaign. a very early bucket both times -- a very early _ campaign. a very early bucket both times -- a very early backers. - campaign. a very early bucket both times -- a very early backers. i - times —— a very early backers. i suspect there will be a lot of penny mordaunt backers weighing that up. there is a lot of pressure on them and on her to think about moving aside for the good of the conservative party, to say let's just get rishi sunak in there, let him build some sort of unity cabinet. he has the backing of the majority of mps, you can see the argument. i don't get the impression from the conversations i am having with penny mordaunt�*s backers that they are in that place. they are frantically trying to get those last few votes to get this over the line. with remembering that even if she

gets the 100, there will be an indicative vote of conservative mps, and if rishi sunak is miles ahead of penny mordaunt, there will be more pressure again on her to stand aside. at the moment she is not prepared to do that. she is trying to get up to that 100 number. but by the end of the day, it could be that rishi sunak is confirmed as the new prime minister. it is worth just remembering the context of all of this. rishi sunak has issued a statement on twitter yesterday, wasn't it? every day is a long day. he has not done any interviews, not updated us on his new economic plan, we don't know which of the policies that he outlined during the last leadership campaign over the summer still stand. his team say that the principles are still there. sound fiscal management, trying to balance the books, that will be important.

but rishi sunak has not faced any scrutiny yet. if this goes down to a final tear of conservative members, that will change. == final tear of conservative members, that will change.— that will change. -- finalto. not that will change. -- finalto. not that much _ that will change. -- finalto. not that much longer _ that will change. -- finalto. not that much longer for _ that will change. -- finalto. not that much longer for this - that will change. -- finalto. not that much longer for this to - that will change. -- finalto. not that much longer for this to play| that much longer for this to play out to find out whether there will be a vote of the wider party on whether rishi sunak could be anointed today as leader of the conservative party and prime minister. stay here, we are in downing street throughout the day. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. after the recent heavy rain that we've seen, things today will quieten down. we've started with some heavy rain, but that will ease, then we're looking at sunshine and showers, and this week it's going to remain mild — but there will still be some rain at times. so we're saying goodbye to the rain in the southeast and also the far northeast, leaving us with bright spells, sunshine and showers. breezy, too, across england and wales — not as breezy in northern ireland and scotland — and our temperatures 11 to about 17 degrees.

as we head on through the evening and overnight period, what you'll find is there will be clear skies developing. we'll hang onto some showers — especially in the west — but some of them being blown in the breeze over towards the east. and once again, it is going to be a mild night — our overnight lows falling away between about nine and 13 degrees. so as we head into tomorrow, what's happening is we've got low pressure in the atlantic, and later on in the day we've got this system coming up which is heading north and it will bring some rain in across parts of cornwall and devon, and then eventually into south wales. and, as you can see from isobars, it's going to be another breezy day, but especially as this rain comes in through the morning across southwest england. for the rest of us, largely dry, the cloud breaking, some sunny skies developing, and a few isolated showers in the west. temperatures 12 to about 18 degrees — our average at this time of year is roughly about 12 to 1a degrees, north to south. now, as we head from tuesday and into wednesday, our low pressure continues to move north in the atlantic, with its weather

fronts trailing across us. they are going to be bringing in rain with them — especially so in western areas — and they'll be followed by some showers, some of which will be heavy and also thundery. it's going to be windy, too, on wednesday, but especially so in the north and the west, with our temperatures climbing a bit — 12 to about 20 degrees. then, as we head from wednesday into thursday, another area of low pressure comes in — again, looking at isobars, it tells you it's going to be another windy day, but the wind source is coming from the south — which is a mild direction for us. so we've got the showery outbreaks of rain pushing north, drier across the far southeast, and depending on the amount of sunshine that we see here, we could have temperatures get up to 21, possibly as much as 22 degrees.

this is bbc news. i'mjoanna gosling, live from downing street, where rishi sunak is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as the uk's prime minister. he could be declared the new conservative party leader as early as this afternoon. the former chancellor has a commanding lead among conservative mps as they choose their next party leader — over half of tory mp's are supporting him. i think he has all the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. the race is on for rival penny mordaunt to secure the 100 backers she needs to go forward to a vote. but her supporters insist there is 'absolutely no chance' she'll be pulling out of the contest. we are feeling supremely confident this morning. there is a lot of support for penny from colleagues.

we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday. and last night borisjohnson put an end to days of speculation about a comeback when he dramatically pulled out of the race — saying it would not be 'the right thing to do�*. rishi sunak praised johnson for his achievements after he pulled out of the race nominations close at 2pm — that's when we should find out whether or not there has to be a ballot of conservative party members, or if one person will be moving straight into number ten. we'll be bringing you updates throughout the day. we could find out as early as this

afternoon who's replacing liz truss as the uk's prime minister. tory mps have until 2pm to make their nominations for party leader and each candidate needs at least 100 backers. if only one achieves that, they'll be declared party leader today and walk through the famous black door as prime minister as soon as tomorrow. if more than one candidate hits the 100 mark, there'll be a ballot by mps later today followed by a vote of party members this week. two candidates have officially declared that they are running. rishi sunak and penny mordaunt. so far, just over 200 out of 357 tory mps have told the bbc who they'll be supporting. 185 — over half of the parliamentary party — are backing rishi sunak, with 26 for penny mordaunt which is some way off the 100 threshold — though her team has said she has passed 90.

mps have been declaring their support, among them the home secretary, grant shapps. he's very confident that rishi sunak is the man for the job. rishi has set out a very clear programme for government which he talked a lot about in the summer, and he was right on a lot of the programme including the fact we need to live within our means and we get back to traditional conservative values and making sure that people's mortgages don't go higher than they need to, because we are fiscally responsible. i think he has set out his stall, his programme. colleagues have backed him in a very big way. you talked about the numbers, 150, 160 mp5 who have backed him so far, so he has the clarity of message and, of course, the fact he was right about this when he was talking about it in the summer. he has the proven

track record as the chancellor who got us through coronavirus, so i think he has all of the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister if it comes to that. andrea leadsom is a penny mordaunt supporter and has been speaking in the past few minutes. we are feeling supremely confident at the moment and there's a lot of support for penny from colleagues and we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday and now that borisjohnson has said he is not going to stand, a lot of his supporters are very keen on penny, so many will be coming to her. what is important is that people understand that penny is a fresh face that the country needs but also the unity candidate that the party needs. i'm joined now by our chief political correspondent nick eardley.

we are number crunching. where are things? we we are number crunching. where are thins? ~ ., �* we are number crunching. where are thins? ., �* ~ ., , things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is _ things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is going _ things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is going to _ things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is going to make - things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is going to make it i things? we don't know if penny mordaunt is going to make it to things? we don't know if penny - mordaunt is going to make it to 100 in the next two hours. her team say she has more than 90 backers, but we can't verify that because we do not have the list. the list we have is considerably shorter, those who have backed out publicly, still under 30, so we will find out for sure in two hours whether she gets onto the ballot. herteam hours whether she gets onto the ballot. her team are adamant she will see this through and push it to a membership vote if she gets enough backing amongst tory mps. something is worth bearing in mind this afternoon, that there is a clear view among tory mps. rishi sunak has a majority of mps backing him. publicly. i suspect that that means that that there is a cushion for him to rely on and if it was down to

tory mps this would be done, 185 on the counties what rishi sunak has, so i think there will be pressure on penny mordaunt in the next couple of hours to say she needs to stand aside. one of her key supporters, george freeman has tweeted in the past hour that her backers need to think about who the best unity candidate is. that is not to say he switched sides, but it's a heavy indication that is what some of the supporters are thinking this lunchtime. there is a crucial two hours ahead to decide whether we get a new prime minister today or a new prime minister at the end of this week. it is quite possible that within the next two hours rishi sunak will know that he has the keys to number ten. and that's a strange position to be in, for one reason in particular. rishi sunak hasn't said anything. he's put out a statement on twitter saying that he wants to

oversee the economy and a sound way, promising integrity in downing street but there will be no interviews over the last few days and he is not said anything to the cameras which are constantly outside his home and his campaign headquarters, so if he does win the keys to number ten today, there will be a lot of pressure on him to say very quickly what his approach to downing street will be. of course we know the broad parameters from the summer but a lot has changed since then and there are some policies from mr sunak where there would be a lot of pressure for clarity and whether they still stand. in terms of someone _ whether they still stand. in terms of someone coming _ whether they still stand. in terms of someone coming in _ whether they still stand. in terms of someone coming in without - whether they still stand. in terms of someone coming in without it | of someone coming in without it being absolutely clear what will be done, we saw that with liz truss. she came in, having refused to give clarity on what support there would be for energy bills beyond saying there would be, and suddenly there was a two—year plan on what she came and ended quickly with the mini budget was very dramatic. there is

an expectation that we will not see real drama under rishi sunak, that there will be very difficult decisions he will be having to take, if it is him. decisions he will be having to take, if it is him-— if it is him. absolutely. a week toda we if it is him. absolutely. a week today we will — if it is him. absolutely. a week today we will be _ if it is him. absolutely. a week today we will be back - if it is him. absolutely. a week today we will be back here - if it is him. absolutely. a week - today we will be back here because thatis today we will be back here because that is the day, as things stand, that is the day, as things stand, that the chancellor is set to set out his medium—term fiscal plan, the one that might involve big cuts in some areas, squeeze on public spending and taxes going up as well, so if rishi sunak is in there by the end of the day or knows he will be moving into their by the end of the day, he has big, difficult decisions to make. remember, overthe day, he has big, difficult decisions to make. remember, over the summer, in an attempt to shore up support in the conservative party, he promised tax cuts and said he would cut income tax by lip by the end of the next parliament. it is possible he could just kick that into the long grass but i think there will be a lot of pressure when it comes to balancing the books to put that plan

on hold. likewise, mr sunak said he wanted more targeted support when it comes to energy. i don't think politically or economically that the government would come in, a new government would come in, a new government would come in, a new government would come in and rip up the support of that is already on offer... �* the support of that is already on offer...�* ,., ,, ,, the support of that is already on offer...�* ,, offer... i'm stopping you, because we are going _ offer... i'm stopping you, because we are going to — offer... i'm stopping you, because we are going to hear— offer... i'm stopping you, because we are going to hear from - offer... i'm stopping you, because we are going to hear from mark i we are going to hearfrom mark francois who is talking about whether the er g group will blow —— vote as a blogger behind one of the candidates. , ., vote as a blogger behind one of the candidates. , . ., , ,., , candidates. they are absolutely determined _ candidates. they are absolutely determined to _ candidates. they are absolutely determined to do _ candidates. they are absolutely determined to do everything i candidates. they are absolutely i determined to do everything they can to unite the conservative party and that the government that they would lead in its formation and composition would clearly reflect better. the erg have resolved that whoever becomes the prime minister of the united kingdom, be that tonight or on friday, we will unite

behind them and assist them in seeking to unite the conservative party. that is the statement. we are willing to take a very few brief questions, but then on a fast moving day, forgive us if there are a few other things we have to do. camilla was first. ., , other things we have to do. camilla was first. . , , ., ~ ., was first. has the erg taken a osition was first. has the erg taken a position as — was first. has the erg taken a position as to _ was first. has the erg taken a position as to whether - was first. has the erg taken a position as to whether they i was first. has the erg taken a i position as to whether they should io position as to whether they should go to— position as to whether they should go to the _ position as to whether they should go to the membership or not because there seems to be disagreement outside — there seems to be disagreement outside between members as to whether— outside between members as to whether you think the membership and .rass whether you think the membership and grass roots _ whether you think the membership and grass roots should have a say on this? _ grass roots should have a say on this? , , ._ u, grass roots should have a say on this? , , ., , ., this? the best way i can answer that is that we did _ this? the best way i can answer that is that we did not _ this? the best way i can answer that is that we did not endorse _ this? the best way i can answer that is that we did not endorse either i is that we did not endorse either candidate. we all know what the situation is. if by 2pm penny mordaunt has not achieved 100 validated nominations, then rishi sunak will effectively become the prime minister. but sunak will effectively become the prime minister.— prime minister. but it is a matter of principle? _ prime minister. but it is a matter of principle? where _ prime minister. but it is a matter of principle? where does - prime minister. but it is a matter of principle? where does the i prime minister. but it is a matter|

of principle? where does the erg stand? _ of principle? where does the erg stand? ., ., of principle? where does the erg stand? . . , ., stand? camilla, we understand the issue, and what _ stand? camilla, we understand the issue, and what i've _ stand? camilla, we understand the issue, and what i've said _ stand? camilla, we understand the issue, and what i've said is - stand? camilla, we understand the issue, and what i've said is we i stand? camilla, we understand the| issue, and what i've said is we have not endorse either candidate. we had a very good debate and i had a number of text messages from members who could not be here and we normally have our flannery on the tuesday evening but it was the 1922 committee that dictated a compressed timetable, and we had a lively debate, but at the end of it we could not come to a complete agreement on whether to endorse one or the other of the potential candidates. so you would expect us to be honest about that. gary? inaudible question at the end of the day, rishi sunak is more than capable of speaking to

himself, and sol is more than capable of speaking to himself, and so i think is penny mordaunt. what i can tell you is that when a delegation of us went to see both of them this morning, they were both very, very clear, i would say adamant, in fact that if either of them were to become prime minister, they would take a robust position on the northern ireland protocol up to and including invoking the parliament act, if that became necessary. i'm looking at my officers and i think that is a fairly good representation of what they both said. any more than that, you have to talk to them. a couple more. , y ., , you have to talk to them. a couple more. , , ., , ., you have to talk to them. a couple more. , , ., you have to talk to them. a couple more. , i. , ., .,, ., more. did you set that as a red line? we _ more. did you set that as a red line? we didn't _ more. did you set that as a red line? we didn't use _ more. did you set that as a red line? we didn't use the - more. did you set that as a red line? we didn't use the phrase| more. did you set that as a red i line? we didn't use the phrase red line, we line? we didn't use the phrase red line. we just _ line? we didn't use the phrase red line, we just asked _ line? we didn't use the phrase red line, we just asked both _ line? we didn't use the phrase red line, we just asked both people i line? we didn't use the phrase red i line, we just asked both people what line, wejust asked both people what they believed in. line, we just asked both people what they believed in.— they believed in. inaudible question- _ they believed in. inaudible oussnon. will— they believed in. inaudible oussnon. will there - they believed in. inaudible oussnon. will there be - they believed in. inaudible - question. will there be pressure for a aeneral question. will there be pressure for a general election? _ question. will there be pressure for a general election? and _ question. will there be pressure for a general election? and the - question. will there be pressure for a general election? and the last i a general election? and the last time _ a general election? and the last

time you — a general election? and the last time you was defence that she was stood _ time you was defence that she was stood here — time you was defence that she was stood here it was defence was your main _ stood here it was defence was your main concern. we stood here it was defence was your main concern-— main concern. we asked both candidates — main concern. we asked both candidates about _ main concern. we asked both candidates about defence, i main concern. we asked both| candidates about defence, and main concern. we asked both i candidates about defence, and the answer to your question is, and we benchmarked that against 3%, and the answer is that rishi sunak did not commit to 3% but said he was determined, if he were prime minister, that he would spend whatever necessary to keep the country safe. penny mordaunt went slightly further and said her aim was to get to 3% on defence, but when economic conditions would allow. on a general election, i'm speaking personally here, we had a general election in 2015, and we had one in 2017 and we had one in 2019, even despite the events of the last few weeks, i'm not convinced that the british public want for general elections in six years. one last one then i think we are done. or are we

good? then i think we are done. or are we aood? �* , �* then i think we are done. or are we tood? �* , �* ., ,, then i think we are done. or are we aood? �* , �* ,, ,, l, l, good? inaudible question... you are watchin: bbc good? inaudible question... you are watching bbc news _ good? inaudible question... you are watching bbc news with _ good? inaudible question... you are watching bbc news with coverage i good? inaudible question... you are watching bbc news with coverage of. watching bbc news with coverage of the end of the leadership election and goodbye to viewers on bbc two. we did not know where it would fall but now it has become very binary. are we going to involve the members in this— are we going to involve the members in this process — are we going to involve the members in this process or— are we going to involve the members in this process or not? _ are we going to involve the members in this process or not? and _ are we going to involve the members in this process or not? and that- are we going to involve the members in this process or not? and that is- in this process or not? and that is an issue _ in this process or not? and that is an issue where _ in this process or not? and that is an issue where the _ in this process or not? and that is an issue where the erg _ in this process or not? and that is an issue where the erg was- in this process or not? and that is. an issue where the erg was similarly split. _ an issue where the erg was similarly split. should — an issue where the erg was similarly split, should members be _ an issue where the erg was similarly split, should members be involved i an issue where the erg was similarly| split, should members be involved or not? i_ split, should members be involved or not? i tend _ split, should members be involved or not? ttend to— split, should members be involved or not? i tend to fall— split, should members be involved or not? i tend to fall on— split, should members be involved or not? i tend to fall on the _ split, should members be involved or not? i tend to fall on the basis - not? i tend to fall on the basis that— not? i tend to fall on the basis that members— not? i tend to fall on the basis that members should, - not? i tend to fall on the basis that members should, if- not? i tend to fall on the basis that members should, if that i not? i tend to fall on the basis i that members should, if that gives you any— that members should, if that gives you any indication _ that members should, if that gives you any indication as _ that members should, if that gives you any indication as to _ that members should, if that gives you any indication as to where i that members should, if that gives. you any indication as to where some were _ you any indication as to where some were thinking — you any indication as to where some were thinking and _ you any indication as to where some were thinking and where _ you any indication as to where some were thinking and where others- were thinking and where others won't — were thinking and where others won't that _ were thinking and where others won't that is _ were thinking and where others won't. that is not _ were thinking and where others won't. that is not as— were thinking and where others won't. that is not as cryptic- were thinking and where others won't. that is not as cryptic asi were thinking and where othersl won't. that is not as cryptic as it sounds. — won't. that is not as cryptic as it sounds. its— won't. that is not as cryptic as it sounds, it's very, _ won't. that is not as cryptic as it sounds, it's very, very— won't. that is not as cryptic as it sounds, it's very, very binary, i won't. that is not as cryptic as it. sounds, it's very, very binary, but this party— sounds, it's very, very binary, but this party is— sounds, it's very, very binary, but this party is absolutely— sounds, it's very, very binary, but this party is absolutely governor. this party is absolutely governor bolt _ this party is absolutely governor bolt the — this party is absolutely governor bolt the erg _ this party is absolutely governor boll. the erg has _ this party is absolutely governor boll. the erg has always- this party is absolutely governor- boll. the erg has always supported prime _ boll. the erg has always supported prime ministers, _ boll. the erg has always supported prime ministers, perhaps— boll. the erg has always supported prime ministers, perhaps bar- boll. the erg has always supported prime ministers, perhaps bar one, i prime ministers, perhaps bar one, because _ prime ministers, perhaps bar one, because that — prime ministers, perhaps bar one, because that was _ prime ministers, perhaps bar one, because that was a _ prime ministers, perhaps bar one,

because that was a major - because that was a major constitutional— because that was a major constitutional issues i because that was a major constitutional issues and | because that was a major i constitutional issues and we because that was a major - constitutional issues and we did, part on— constitutional issues and we did, part on that _ constitutional issues and we did, part on that one, _ constitutional issues and we did, part on that one, but _ constitutional issues and we did, part on that one, but everyone l part on that one, but everyone before — part on that one, but everyone before and _ part on that one, but everyone before and after, _ part on that one, but everyone before and after, we _ part on that one, but everyone before and after, we have i part on that one, but everyone | before and after, we have been part on that one, but everyone i before and after, we have been very reliable _ before and after, we have been very reliable and — before and after, we have been very reliable and i — before and after, we have been very reliable and i see _ before and after, we have been very reliable and i see us— before and after, we have been very reliable and i see us as _ before and after, we have been very reliable and i see us as the - reliable and i see us as the petroleum _ reliable and i see us as the petroleum guard _ reliable and i see us as the petroleum guard of- reliable and i see us as the petroleum guard of what i reliable and i see us as the i petroleum guard of what ever reliable and i see us as the - petroleum guard of what ever prime minister~ _ petroleum guard of what ever prime minister~ we — petroleum guard of what ever prime minister. we are _ petroleum guard of what ever prime minister. we are loyal. _ petroleum guard of what ever prime minister. we are loyal. —— _ petroleum guard of what ever prime minister. we are loyal. —— pretoria i minister. we are loyal. —— pretoria regard _ minister. we are loyal. —— pretoria regard as — minister. we are loyal. -- pretoria reaard. r . minister. we are loyal. -- pretoria reaard. a ., , ., regard. as catherine is right to remind me. — regard. as catherine is right to remind me, we _ regard. as catherine is right to remind me, we are _ regard. as catherine is right to remind me, we are right- regard. as catherine is right to remind me, we are right to i remind me, we are right to reiterate, whoever becomes prime minister at the end of the process we will attempt to give our full support of this person. thank you for your time. support of this person. thank you for your time-— support of this person. thank you for your time. mark francois of the erg, the european _ for your time. mark francois of the erg, the european group - for your time. mark francois of the erg, the european group of- erg, the european group of backbenchers, the brexit supporting group of backbenchers basically say that that group or not row in behind rishi sunak or penny mordaunt but they will unite behind whoever turns out to be the next leader of the conservative party next prime minister. nick is still with me. your thoughts? hat minister. nick is still with me. your thoughts?— minister. nick is still with me. yourthou~hts? ., . . , , , your thoughts? not a great surprise that the erg —

your thoughts? not a great surprise that the erg could _ your thoughts? not a great surprise that the erg could not _ your thoughts? not a great surprise that the erg could not unite - your thoughts? not a great surprise that the erg could not unite around| that the erg could not unite around one person in this leadership race. the conversations i've been having with my mp5 the conversations i've been having with my mps in the last few days, some of them think rishi sunak is by far the best person to take the country forward. some of them have never forgiven mr sunak for his role in bringing down borisjohnson. i'm not sure it changes the calculation though about whether this goes to a run—off between penny mordaunt and rishi sunak with members or not. yes, penny mordaunt will try to get some of those votes from the erg but we already knew some of the brexiteers were backing mr sunak. so we will persuade to see if penny mordaunt can get the magic 100 number —— we will wait to see. thea;r number -- we will wait to see. they say currently — number -- we will wait to see. they say currently over _ number -- we will wait to see. they say currently over 90. _ number —— we will wait to see. they say currently over 90. although the bbc can only confirm 27.— bbc can only confirm 27. there is one more- _ bbc can only confirm 27. there is one more. yes, _ bbc can only confirm 27. there is one more. yes, we _ bbc can only confirm 27. there is one more. yes, we have - bbc can only confirm 27. there is one more. yes, we have now- bbc can only confirm 27. there is i one more. yes, we have now verified those numbers and the numbers we

have publicly are considerably lower. . ~' , ., , . joining me now is proffesor anand menon — a lecturer at king's college london and the director of the thinktank the uk in a changing europe. welcome. we just heard from the erg, the backbench brexiteers in the tory party saying they are not going behind either candidate but unite behind either candidate but unite behind will whoever it is. what is your reaction to that? than your reaction to that? an interesting _ your reaction to that? in interesting press conference. i think david cameron would have been interested to hear that the erg were always loyal to prime minister is because that is not always been the case and it was interesting they spoke specifically about the northern ireland protocol. nick was quite right when you interviewed him a moment ago saying that what is remarkable about the campaign is that rishi sunak has not come out and smelled anything approaching a platform and one of the interesting challenges he will face as soon as he comes in is whether to try to

renegotiate the northern ireland protocol and risk a trade war with the european union at a time when the european union at a time when the economy is fragile, so there's an awful lot we don't know about what rishi sunak�*s prime ministership would look like. what ministership would look like. what would the new— ministership would look like. what would the new prime _ ministership would look like. what would the new prime minister need to do to keep groups like that sweet? there are various different vested interest across the party and we have seen how that division, and you mention david cameron on the issues around europe have been dividing the party for a long time. it thrill around europe have been dividing the party for a long time.— party for a long time. it will be very difficult. _ party for a long time. it will be very difficult. to _ party for a long time. it will be very difficult. to take - party for a long time. it will be very difficult. to take two i very difficult. to take two examples, on europe, there is the good of the economy which requires for us to maintain relations with the european union so trade can remain where it is and the demands of groups like the erg who say you have to rip up the northern ireland protocol, and we know the european union will simply refuse to do and the european union has made it clear in the event we try to do this unilaterally, they will retaliate

and there are other issues like immigration. if you think back to the liz truss premiership, remarkably there was a moment when we had a government that seem to have two parallel immigration policies. liz truss thinking about liberalising to get more money in to boost growth and suella braverman talking about bringing the numbers down to tens of thousands, so there are substantive divisions in the conservative party over policy. this is not simply about personality. fin is not simply about personality. on immigration and other issues and other aspects, multi—faith questions, it was very important for a lot of people of faith when rishi sunak as chancellor here two years ago lit candles outside number 11 for diwali, and it is diwali again and possibly he will be the first hindu prime minister in the country.

what is your reflection on that? it's obviously a really big moment for questions of race and faith in this country to have, if we do, a prime minister of indian origin. it's a really big deal. weight reassures me most is how little comic there has been about it in the sense that we seem to have normalised this. we had a cabinet with a fair degree of ethnic minority representation before and having someone in the top job is symbolically very important but i'm reassured to find that there hasn't been that much discussion about it, almost a bit the british people accept as normal, which is the situation we need to be in. what i would add is that racial diversity is one thing and there was with liz truss a lack of socio— economic diversity within that cabinet. truss a lack of socio- economic diversity within that cabinet. thank ou ve diversity within that cabinet. thank you very much _ diversity within that cabinet. thank you very much for _ diversity within that cabinet. thank you very much forjoining _ diversity within that cabinet. thank you very much forjoining us. i lord forsyth is a conservative peer and was secretary of state

for scotland injohn major's government. he is now chairman of the association of conservative peers in the house of lords. he told me that penny mordaunt should reconsider her candidacy. we need to bring this whole pantomime to a conclusion. i think the best thing would be for penny mordaunt to do what she says she wants to do, which is to bring unity to the party by withdrawing so that we have a coronation of one candidate and that we can get on with the business of governing. it's perfectly obvious that she now has the support of a vast number of conservative mps compared to penny. and we need to move forward. and the last thing we need is for us to have an extended period when markets are unsettled and when, quite frankly, the conservative party is looking ridiculous, both at home and abroad. let's just remind ourselves of the process to choose a new conservative leader — and british prime minister. as we said, we may find out who's

replacing liz truss as early as this afternoon. conservative mps have until 2pm this afternoon to nominate their preferred candidate. each candidate needs at least 100 nominations — if only one of them achieves that, they'll be declared leader and prime minister. if there's two — mps will then hold an indicative vote on the two finalists, before the choice is handed to the conservative membership in the country, who will vote online. if that happens, the new party leader and prime minister will be declared on friday. the numbers as they stand right now are that rishi sunak, the bbc has confirmed, has 188 backers, more than half of the parliamentary party and penny mordaunt has 27, so it's gone up by one in terms of the numbers that the bbc can confirm but her camp are now saying she has at least 90 backers. let's get some

historical perspective. let's talk to the political historian, drjames freeman. we are in a time of lots of firsts and records being set. how are you seeing things? it and records being set. how are you seeing things?— and records being set. how are you seeing things? it can go a number of wa s, seeing things? it can go a number of ways. depending _ seeing things? it can go a number of ways, depending on _ seeing things? it can go a number of ways, depending on which _ seeing things? it can go a number of ways, depending on which way i seeing things? it can go a number of ways, depending on which way it i seeing things? it can go a number of| ways, depending on which way it goes this afternoon there are a range of historical precedents that will cover it, so if we are looking at a coronation, and it does seem there is quite a lot of pressure being put on penny mordaunt to make that happen, we are looking at the nearest example we have is back to michael howard in 2003 where in a slightly similar scenario he came in and replaced iain duncan smith after and replaced iain duncan smith after a failed leadership bid for the party and that was in opposition though. i guess even more recently you might look to theresa may for that kind of scenario. a coronation is one scenario we can look at, but

i think whatever happens we are likely to see a period in the conservative party where it's not just ideological factions and splits, but personalfactions, so whichever way this goes this afternoon, we are likely to see people around, the old splits between the erg and the brexiteers versus those less keen on brexit, but you are likely to see also that 2019 intake of mps associated with borisjohnson exercising some political influence, no matter the result today. has. political influence, no matter the result today-— result today. as you say, it's a -a result today. as you say, it's a party pulling — result today. as you say, it's a party pulling itself _ result today. as you say, it's a party pulling itself in - result today. as you say, it's a party pulling itself in different| party pulling itself in different directions but it is a party still with a sizeable majority, so they could, if they wanted to, pull together and not go to the country, if they can govern with stability, but it's not clear that can be done. that's correct, but parties can lose their cohesion remarkably quickly. the conservative party, in fact, has always had wings to it, and a common

look —— an economic liberal wing and one more about traditional, social values and lots of middle ground conservatives. and what has changed since that has become personalised. from fajr onwards, you could argue, but there were some precedents before that —— from thatcher onwards. back in the edwardian period, the early 19005, the conservative party was in power and gave up power to concede it to the liberals thinking they could not form a strong enough government and the liberals went to the electorate and the conservatives lost very badly. these things do happen. what richey soon out or potentially penny mordaunt would have to deal with is the dynamic between membership and parliamentarians, and we have had times in the history of the party where it has been a dynamic before and looking back to 1963, i was reading over a chap called quintin hogg, lord hailsham as he was known,

that his leadership attempt to replace harold macmillan and he was derided by the tory press as and there were historical precedents for linking between membership and parliamentarians beginning to frame. thank you very much, doctorjames freeman. let's go back to nick eardley, whojust freeman. let's go back to nick eardley, who just whispered that you have something to telus. from eardley, who just whispered that you have something to telus.— have something to telus. from one freeman to — have something to telus. from one freeman to another. _ have something to telus. from one freeman to another. george i have something to telus. from one i freeman to another. george freeman, the conservative mp, a prominent backer of penny mordaunt to put out a tweet suggesting that there needed to be a push for unity and i've just been on the phone to him and he is saying that penny mordaunt needs to pick up the phone and do a deal with rishi sunak which would make mr sunak prime minister and she would potentially get a top job as a compromise. and his argument is yes, she would make a great prime minister but it is now clear that

some sort of compromise needs to happen to allow some unity and allow the government to move forward with a new prime minister immediately. that is significant, because he was one of the early backers with the last campaign and i wonder if that is a view now amongst others backing penny mordaunt. her team at the moment are not throwing the towel in and are determined to press ahead and are determined to press ahead and say they have more than 90 backers although we've not heard that and we have actually heard its fewer than 30 but one of the prominent backers is saying to the bbc that she needs to do a deal and allow rishi sunak to become prime minister. it allow rishi sunak to become prime minister. ., ,, , ., allow rishi sunak to become prime minister. , ., , , ., minister. it makes logical sense for them to pull— minister. it makes logical sense for them to pull together _ minister. it makes logical sense for them to pull together but - minister. it makes logical sense for them to pull together but the i them to pull together but the numbers may be that the team decides they can continue to go ahead but this is a significant person indicating it might be that events move quite quickly. the

indicating it might be that events move quite quickly.— indicating it might be that events move quite quickly. the view amongst other penny mordaunt _ move quite quickly. the view amongst other penny mordaunt backers - move quite quickly. the view amongst other penny mordaunt backers who i other penny mordaunt backers who have been on whatsapp while we've been on air is that they are within touching distance of getting over the line to get on the ballot and there seems to be a firm view and it should be put to a vote of the membership but as we are reflecting in the next couple of hours there is real pressure and it is increasing on penny mordaunt to step aside to allow rishi sunak to get into number ten. he clearly has the backing of the majority, perhaps a significant majority perhaps in 90 minutes' time of tory mps, and i think we are hearing a growing number of conservatives say we need to get this done and i think the found this morning that were speaking a lot about penny mordaunt because that's the unanswered question but the thing ifound the unanswered question but the thing i found significant this morning is the number of people who are prominent backers of boris johnson who may have gone to penny

mordaunt but went to rishi sunak instead, and the most recent one was chris heaton—harris, chief whip in the borisjohnson who was canvassing mrjohnson's supporters saying that we can get on this ballot tomorrow but he is now saying he is backing rishi sunak and so is the foreign secretary, and james cleverly, so it feels like the momentum is clearly with mr sunak. he has the majority support amongst conservative mps, perhaps a significant majority and there is a lot of pressure on penny mordaunt to stand aside including from some of her old backers but at the moment she is not doing it. it has been quite well when. it is i has been quite well when. it is never calm _ has been quite well when. it is never calm around _ has been quite well when. it 3 never calm around here. has been quite well when. it is never calm around here. at i has been quite well when. it is i never calm around here. at least the weather is good. _ never calm around here. at least the weather is good. last _ never calm around here. at least the weather is good. last night - never calm around here. at least the weather is good. last night was - never calm around here. at least the weather is good. last night was very | weather is good. last night was very stormy. i was worried about standing in the rain. but for now a clear blue sky above us. you are watching bbc news, live from downing street.

rishi sunak is the firm favourite to replace liz truss as the uk prime minister. you could be declared a new conservative party leader as early as this afternoon. the former chancellor has a commanding lead among conservative mps as they choose their next party leader — over half of tory mps are supporting him. i think he has all the really good ideas on his side and i think he would be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. the race is on for rival penny mordaunt to secure the 100 backers she needs to go forward to a vote. but her supporters insist there is "absolutely no chance" she'll be pulling out of the contest. we are feeling supremely confident this morning. there is a lot of support for penny from colleagues. we had that support from all sides of the party yesterday. nominations close at 2pm — that's when we should find out whether or not there has to be a ballot of conservative party members — or if one person will be moving straight into number ten.

we'll be bringing you updates throughout the day. asi as i was just discussing, things are potentially shifting and one of the key backers of penny mordaunt has indicated it is time for her to say she is standing aside and backing rishi sunak, that they would do a deal. that is george freeman. he is one of a number of backers, one of her earliest, but whether he will be reflective of what her camp think, we still don't know. there is still a bit of time to run on the clock. tbm is when the nominations close but, of course, there may well be developments before then if decisions are taken not to go to the wire. —— two o'clock is the time. former chancellor rishi sunak is a favourite to win. there are just those two candidates, rishi sunak and penny mordaunt. let's talk

through the numbers. there are 188 backers so far verified by the bbc is coming out for rishi sunak, and currently 27 for penny mordaunt, although her team are saying privately that they do have more than 90, which, if that is the case, it is close to 100 but not close enough. the influential european research group, a wing of the conservative party which pushed strongly for brexit, says it is unable to agree on which candidate to endorse. speaking to reporters in parliament, mark francois said it is time for the party to pull together. the erg have resolved that whoever becomes the prime minister of the united kingdom, be that tonight or on friday, we will unite behind them

and assist them in seeking to unite the conservative party. we and assist them in seeking to unite the conservative party.— and assist them in seeking to unite the conservative party. we can talk to a smarter— the conservative party. we can talk to a sunporter of— the conservative party. we can talk to a supporter of rishi _ the conservative party. we can talk to a supporter of rishi sunak. - the conservative party. we can talk| to a supporter of rishi sunak. laura farris is the mp for newbury. thank you forjoining us. do you think it is effectively all over and it will be him in numberio? i is effectively all over and it will be him in number10?- is effectively all over and it will be him in number10? i don't think the campaign _ be him in number10? i don't think the campaign is — be him in number10? i don't think the campaign is taking _ be him in number10? i don't think the campaign is taking anything - be him in number10? i don't think the campaign is taking anything for granted. there is a real momentum to his campaign now. he is nearing 200 backers, which means he'd make a true claim that he is the candidate who can bring the party together and he has the majority support and that is really a significant.— is really a significant. sorry, i 'ust is really a significant. sorry, i just heard — is really a significant. sorry, i just heard in _ is really a significant. sorry, i just heard in my _ is really a significant. sorry, i just heard in my ear - is really a significant. sorry, i just heard in my ear that - is really a significant. sorry, i just heard in my ear that iain| just heard in my ear that iain duncan smith has tweeted to say that he is coming in behind rishi sunak. let me bring you that tweet.

big names coming in behind rishi sunak. there is still a contest under way because penny mordaunt is indicating that for now at least she will not be pulling the plug on this race. what do you think unity would be best served by? i race. what do you think unity would be best served by?— be best served by? i think unity would be best _ be best served by? i think unity would be best served _ be best served by? i think unity would be best served by - be best served by? i think unity would be best served by rishi l be best served by? i think unity - would be best served by rishi sunak and one of the things you have seen through the day is that the names that have been declaring for him by those who didn't backing the first time around. either they were very strong supporters of borisjohnson over the last 48 hours or if they were people who backed liz truss, and what you are seeing now is people from every single wing of the party, from the one nation group, of which i am a member, to the erg and people with completely differing positions within the conservative party, unifying. you are seeing a crystallisation of thought where it

seems that's notjust the numbers put the weight of opinion is now really strongly behind him. i like and respect penny, she is a friend, and respect penny, she is a friend, and i'm sure she will be thinking really hard about where to go and i think she deserves a moment to reach a final decision before she communicates that.- a final decision before she communicates that. ., ., , . communicates that. you would expect it to be before — communicates that. you would expect it to be before two _ communicates that. you would expect it to be before two o'clock? _ communicates that. you would expect it to be before two o'clock? i - communicates that. you would expect it to be before two o'clock? i would i it to be before two o'clock? i would ho -e so. it to be before two o'clock? i would hepe s0- once _ it to be before two o'clock? i would hope so. once you _ it to be before two o'clock? i would hope so. once you get _ it to be before two o'clock? i would hope so. once you get to _ it to be before two o'clock? i would hope so. once you get to the - hope so. once you get to the position where rishi sunak is now, where you can show that you have more than half the party named, supporting you, it becomes very difficult for an alternative candidate to say i am the unity candidate to say i am the unity candidate or i can offer something to the party when they are expressing something different in the way that they are expressing support. the way that they are expressing su ort. ., ., ., ., , support. you have apologised recently for — support. you have apologised recently for the _ support. you have apologised recently for the instability - support. you have apologised| recently for the instability and disruption caused by your party. how strongly do you feel about that and

how strongly do you think the people out there who are making very difficult decisions in this time of difficulty and cost of living going up difficulty and cost of living going up so dramatically, how strong do you think they feel about that? it is unacceptable what the british public have had to experience from the government in the last six to eight weeks. ifeel the government in the last six to eight weeks. i feel that's the government in the last six to eight weeks. ifeel that's keenly the government in the last six to eight weeks. i feel that's keenly on behalf of my constituents and also my own behalf because when i'm trying to make representations, for example i went to see a rail minister last week but with a change in government i don't know if it will be the same business week. as a backbench mp i want to do the best job i can have my constituents and they absolutely need stability and a competent government and a firm economic grip. i would say when jeremy hunt was appointed things began to change and i believe without a hint of reservation that rishi sunak is the right person for thisjob. he has an exceptional ability, particularly in the field

of economics. the british people are familiar with him but they also trust him because of the way that he created unprecedented support nets for them through the pandemic, and i badly want to see stability and competence are brought to the heart of government, and i believe he can do that. ., ., ., , of government, and i believe he can dothat. . . ., , ., ~ of government, and i believe he can do that. ., ., ., , ., ~ , ., do that. laura farris, thank you very much _ do that. laura farris, thank you very much indeed _ do that. laura farris, thank you very much indeed for— do that. laura farris, thank you very much indeed forjoining . do that. laura farris, thank you| very much indeed forjoining us. do that. laura farris, thank you - very much indeed forjoining us. we are talking about how people outside of westminster think about this. we can go to ben boulos has been speaking to people at a wholesale market near heathrow airport. well, the world is watching all that's been going on with uk politics. and here at the western international market, we've got produce that's come from all over the world. these apples have been imported from france over this side. take a look. we've got pineapples that have come all the way from costa rica and up there, those pears that have been imported from belgium. and it's traders at places like this that are really feeling

the sharp end. they're at the sharp end of all the economic turmoil we've seen over the last few weeks. let's find out how it's affecting them. and we can speak to raj, who's got one of the businesses here. raj, how is all that we've seen recently affected you in terms of the business you do? well, my family's been importing for a long time. and since ijoined the business, this has to be the worst that we've seen. compounded issues. we've had petrol prices going up, which has affected us. we've had delays and strikes at the docks, which is delaying produce — and worse it has been the currency fluctuations. you know, uncertainty has led to the pound falling against the dollar, which has led to us having to increase our prices. and that's why, for example, we've got some garlic here that you import. so that's why the garlic has got more expensive when people are buying it in the supermarket off the shelf. yeah. so the currency has, you know, dropped nearly 5%, io% against a dollar, nearly 20%. and we have to pass this on.

there's been no support any other way. so all we can do is increase prices. ok, raj, thank you very much. we're going to speak to your brother viraj, who is in business with you. good to see you. it looks like rishi sunak is emerging as the frontrunner to become the prime minister. and if he's watching, if he's listening, what would you like to see him do? what's the priority to help businesses like yours? we've seen rapid growth over the past 12 to 18 months. and one of the biggest challenges we've faced is shortage of labour. and, you know, i am aware that many industries and many businesses across various industries, suffered. but the food service industry in particular is labour—intensive. so i'd be looking at our new prime minister to help businesses fill roles where there are shortages by assisting with the whole process, reducing admin fees and any hurdles there is within the existing sponsorship system. so that would be a big one for us, really. 0k.

thank you very much. and let's come over and speak to duncan to get the economic overview of the challenges facing the new government. duncan, so many different priorities, so many different pressures. do we get a sense of how, if it is rishi sunak, how he might approach those? i think the problem is that rishi sunak, assuming it's him, is going to be really concentrating on that sort of financial market turbulence and currency turbulence we've seen over the last few weeks. so he'll be taking steps to reassure financial markets by raising taxes, by cutting spending. the worry is, the more he moves to reassure financial markets, the less he can do to help households and firms directly in the short run. 0k. and i think what we're hearing from people is that the cost of living pressures are still very much there. we have that warning from a former governor of the bank of england that we could see a period of austerity even worse than we saw after the financial crisis.

i mean, that's definitely... you step back, we've got inflation running at the highest it's been in 40 years. we've got an economy slipping into recession. we've got consumer confidence, household confidence as low as it's ever been. so the outlook is really quite grim. you know, you add on top government spending cuts, you look at possibly a deeper recession. ok, duncan, thank you very much indeed. well, as things stand, we're expecting that the new chancellor, jeremy hunt, will set out his tax and spending plans on the 31st of october. that's a week from today. and that is when we'll find out how — like these boxes at the wholesale market — the government's financial plans will stack up. we are told that the administration is continuing to put the finishing touches to that statement, due on the 31st of october in the event

that the new prime minister decides to go ahead with it and there is no indication at all that that wouldn't be the case. earlier, i caught up with the editor of the house magazine, rosa prince. i began by asking her if there's a sense that the race is almost over it does feel that way. penny mordaunt doesn't seem to be going anywhere in a hurry. she was actually tweeting in the last few minutes about the campaign and saying she's still running. so i guess the clock is ticking for her and she's going to have to try and reach that 100 threshold. you would have thought, if she had approaching ioo backers, she would have more public support. so i'm guessing it's all over bar the shouting. but as we've learned, you never know in politics. and how important is that moment where rishi sunak now has the support of half of the members of the party? i think that's a huge statement. one of the problems for liz truss was that she never really had the backing of the parliamentary party. she only came in third behind penny mordaunt actually in the first couple of rounds and sort of snuck through to the final ballot and then made it into the prime

ministership, made it into number 10 with the support of conservative party members, and that made it really hard for her to govern. she packed her government with supporters. that the markets were spooked by. but one of those problems was the fact she didn't i think if penny mordaunt does manage to get on to the ballot paper, she will be facing that same problem. couldn't rishi sunak unite the party behind him? that's a huge question. the conservative party increasingly feels very divided in all sorts of different directions. for a long time it was kind of leave and remain. then it was a sort of economic wets and the dries and there were the red wall seats and the blue wall seats. it does feel like there are many fissures and it's going to take someone with a lot of authority to get through that and to get through to the next general election. i mean, obviously, he says he can — he says he's the man who can deliver — but it's certainly not a united party at the moment. so, i mean, there are multiple constituencies and the markets we have seen are an

incredibly important one. and so far this morning, they're making an assumption, it seems, according to market analysts, that it will be rishi sunak and they're responding favourably. but whatever happens going forward, the political decisions are going to be incredibly difficult. and we are still hearing strong voices within the party saying actually there needs to be an election. so it's notjust political opponents saying there needs to be an election. that's right. and you've got all those borisjohnson backers who aren't very happy about what's happened — some of them very vocal indeed. the last thing most conservative mps want is an election right now because they fear that they'd lose their seats. so it actually says quite a lot that you've got some of them coming out and saying that they do need that spell in opposition. so, as you say, the economic problems coming down the track, i mean, every day we seem to hear some new statistic about interest rates or inflation or the cost of living crisis. in many ways, who would want to be prime minister at the moment?

because it is going to be such a difficult task. and what is your sense of the mood within the party? we've heard some really angry voices amongst tory mps and former tory mps saying that basically the government has lost the trust of the people. yeah, that's right. so, as you say, the house is parliament's magazine and i speak to a lot of conservative mps and they feel very unhappy, they feel quite bitter, quite angry in all sorts of different directions. some are annoyed because their person didn't make it through. some are annoyed about some of the things that have happened over the last few months, but it certainly doesn't feel a very content party right now. and that's problematic because we've got a new prime minister. they want to go into an election in a united way. divided parties don't win elections, we hear. so i think that rishi sunak has a big taskjust in party management, even before he thinks about policy and the economic situation. and that's, of course, making the assumption, which it does seem to be, the way things are going, that he is likely to be the next inhabitant of number 10. how would you expect things to unfold today? do you think they could start to move quite quickly? i think they could. we haven't had a full timetable,

so we don't actually know what would happen if, say, penny mordaunt dropped out in the next hour and that automatically paved the way for rishi sunak to be the prime minister. various things, i think, need to fall into place, such as not least whether king charles is at the palace to receive him. so i think he could be in number 10 as soon as this evening, although that's certainly not the case. i would expect that if he does make it through, if he is the only candidate, he would probably hold his first prime minister's question time on wednesday and that there would be that transition of power. but for the moment, liz truss is saying that she's still going to be inside number 10 until friday. so i think we need a bit of clarity from from the people running the show to know for sure. it's dizzying when you try to get your head around the changes in personnel. we've had four chancellors in quick succession from rishi sunak through to jeremy hunt. would you expect... i mean, penny mordaunt has said that she would keep jeremy hunt as chancellor. i don't think rishi sunak has said he would, but would you expect him to in order to maintain some stability?

that's a really big question. i was speaking to someone last week who was close to rishi sunak, who was saying that he would like his own chancellor. i mean, he was chancellor for not that long, but actually it feels like a long stretch compared to some of the chancellors we've had since. and he's very across economic policy. he will have his own agenda. he will kind of be running the treasury from number 10. i mean, it's rare to get a chancellor who becomes prime minister. so i think he'll really want to be putting his own stamp on things. so i wonder if that means whetherjeremy hunt may not be that long for this world in the treasury. you know, it's a difficult decision for him because, as you say, the markets seem to be steadying a bit and it may be fairly obvious just to keep him in place so that they could get through to that economic statement that we know is due on the sist. moving, changing that may mean that gets pushed back, which the markets may not like. so i think that's going to be actually one of the first big decisions that rishi sunak is going to have to make. what do we learn from the tory party

and where it is and how it has possibly shifted in terms of belief as a result of what we've seen happening with liz truss? i think that's a really good question. the conservative party is famously a very broad church, but it does seem to be squeezing so many different strands of thought into it that that actually feeds into the thinking of some people who say it needs to be in a position who say it needs to be in opposition to kind of have that debate to thrash those issues out. is it a low—tax kind of socially conservative or socially liberal party? i just don't know. i mean, different people you speak to have very different ways of thinking about the world. so i don't think yet we know what it says about the conservative party. i think it remains to be seen who comes out on top and what happens to those people who are unhappy with the choices that take place over the next few months. will they form their own party? will they break away and go off to a kind of brexit, farage—type party? i think these are all really interesting questions as we go into the next election.

rosa prince speaking to me earlier and saying events might move quickly to lack of penny mordaunt�*s key backers, george freeman. they were educated he had pulled his support effectively —— because there were indications he had pulled his support to saying he now wanted her to withdraw and back rishi sunak. he has tweeted to say... nick eardley is with me. we were expecting it to say that when we were talking earlier but it is a moment, isn't it, in terms of where things might go? it moment, isn't it, in terms of where things might go?— things might go? it follows the attern of things might go? it follows the pattern of the _ things might go? it follows the pattern of the day, _ things might go? it follows the pattern of the day, which - things might go? it follows the pattern of the day, which is - things might go? it follows the pattern of the day, which is all| things might go? it follows the . pattern of the day, which is all the momentum being with rishi sunak,

increasing pressure on penny mordaunt to accept that mr sunak has the backing of the majority of mps and that she should stand aside to allow him to take over at number 10 and to move on quite quickly with coming up with a plan to hit the economy —— get the economy back on the road. i don't get the impression from the conversations i have had this morning that that is likely. i think team mordaunt can deliver want to wait to see if they can get over the 100 figure. the latest we have from them as they say they have more than 90 backers. we can't verify that. ourfigures are publicly declared backing a considerably low, still under 30. the vast majority of people who have declared today that they moved on from borisjohnson after he pulled out to someone else have gone to rishi sunak. only a couple have gone to penny mordaunt. however, herteam insist couple have gone to penny mordaunt. however, her team insist that she is pretty close to getting that 100. we

will know in just over one hour. the will know in 'ust over one hour. the clock is will know in just over one hour. the clock is ticking. one hour and ten minutes away. in terms of unity for the party going forward, we have heard today from the backbench group of brexiteer tory mps, the erg, saying they are not backing either candidate but will unite behind one. i was speaking to a one nation tory mp earlier who is backing rishi sunak and says that that group will row in behind him, basically saying that she believes that all the different factions will support rishi sunak. do you see it that he could be a unifying leader? i don't think the party _ could be a unifying leader? i don't think the party has _ could be a unifying leader? i don't think the party has any _ could be a unifying leader? i don't think the party has any option. - could be a unifying leader? i don't think the party has any option. i l think the party has any option. i think the party has any option. i think if rishi sunak is administered by tomorrow then he will get the backing of most mps. there are some borisjohnson backing of most mps. there are some boris johnson loyalists backing of most mps. there are some borisjohnson loyalists who hate rishi sunak, blame him for the downfall of mrjohnson, and may well struggle to bite their tongue or

tongues over the next few months. at the conservative party it really is facing an existential crisis at the moment. it has plummeted in the polls and in my conversations with tory mps i think they are facing up to a situation now where if they don't get behind whoever is in number 10 by the end of this week then they know they face oblivion. regardless of who it is, there is a big battle coming. the opposition parties are going to continue pushing for a general election. labour people i have spoken to this morning so they don't mind if it is rishi sunak because they think his record in government is as bad as any other and he helped the country into the mess it is injust any other and he helped the country into the mess it is in just now. any other and he helped the country into the mess it is injust now. to come back to the question, if rishi sunak is within the next hour confirmed as the new prime minister, then, yes, iwould confirmed as the new prime minister, then, yes, i would expect the vast majority of tory mps to get behind him but not necessarily all of them. bit of time to go. you keep looking

at your phone, it is changing all the time, keep us updated. let's get a sense of reaction from outside london. we cannot go tojo black in corby. indie london. we cannot go to jo black in corb . ~ . . london. we cannot go to jo black in corb .~ ., ., ':: london. we cannot go to jo black in corb .~ ., ., 'z: , london. we cannot go to jo black in corb. ., ., ':: london. we cannot go to jo black in corb, ., ., 'i: ., corby. we are at 90 miles away from where ou corby. we are at 90 miles away from where you are _ corby. we are at 90 miles away from where you are standing _ corby. we are at 90 miles away from where you are standing here - corby. we are at 90 miles away from where you are standing here in - where you are standing here in northamptonshire in the town of corby. the town built on steel is what they used to say and i am standing next to this wonderful statue here of a steelworker because they were steel works here, huge steelworks which dominated the landscape here in the i930s and they closed around 30 or 40 years ago and although there is still steelworks here in the town, it is much smaller thanit here in the town, it is much smaller than it used to be. there was a lot of hardship here when they closed as you can imagine but there is plenty of regeneration now. look down the high street, it is really busy today. shoppers coming out, it is half term. i have been speaking to some people about what is happening at westminster. i have spoken to a

lot of borisjohnson fans and asking them about what they would like to see from the next prime minister and who they would like that prime minister to be. because there is a lot of borisjohnson fans, now minister to be. because there is a lot of boris johnson fans, now they know he has stepped back, lots of people have told me they would like to see rishi sunak. nobody has mentioned penny mordaunt. rishi sunak seems to be the man people want that i have spoken to here. i asked what they would like to see from prime minister. they would like to see some financial stability, it will not surprise you. there was a lot of high should hear many years ago, lots of logistics business is here now, lots of food processing. lots of regeneration and so people, even though all of that is going on, people are still struggling with the cost of living, so they want the prime minister to come in, sought all of this out if they can. they want this prime minister issue sorted as soon as possible and as we have been hearing it might be sorted

later on today. have been hearing it might be sorted later on today-— have been hearing it might be sorted later on today. thank you very much. let me bring — later on today. thank you very much. let me bring you _ later on today. thank you very much. let me bring you a _ later on today. thank you very much. let me bring you a flavour _ later on today. thank you very much. let me bring you a flavour of - later on today. thank you very much. let me bring you a flavour of what i let me bring you a flavour of what some in the party are saying. iain duncan smith saying it is time to end the leadership contest and get the prime minister in place asap. i have reached the decision that senior experience at the heart of government matters most. to that end, i shall support rishi sunak. he said the backbiting must stop. we have also heard from a prominent backer of penny mordaunt, george freeman, who says while he is proud to support her and she is a huge voice work conservatism, he said that given the urgent need for conservative ability and unity this week, i am now urging conservative ability and unity this week, iam now urging hertojoin and back rishi sunak today. for now it is still very much still and for penny mordaunt a race and for penny mordaunt and raced to 100. her supporters say she has more than 90. the confirmed number that the bbc has for her in terms of backers is

27 and four rishi sunak it is 191. there has been a sense this morning of pretty unstoppable momentum behind rishi sunak. we will of course keep you updated here at downing street throughout the day. for now, let's catch up with the weather. hello again. after the recent heavy rain that we've seen, things today will quieten down. we've started with some heavy rain, but that will ease, then we're looking at sunshine and showers, and this week it's going to remain mild — but there will still be some rain at times. so we're saying goodbye to the rain in the southeast and also the far northeast, leaving us with bright spells, sunshine and showers. breezy, too, across england and wales — not as breezy in northern ireland and scotland — and our temperatures 11 to about 17 degrees. as we head on through the evening and overnight period, what you'll find is there will be clear skies developing. we'll hang onto some showers — especially in the west — but some of them being blown in the breeze over towards the east. and once again, it is going to be a mild night —

our overnight lows falling away between about nine and 13 degrees. so as we head into tomorrow, what's happening is we've got low pressure in the atlantic, and later on in the day we've got this system coming up which is heading north and it will bring some rain in across parts of cornwall and devon, and then eventually into south wales. and, as you can see from isobars, it's going to be another breezy day, but especially as this rain comes in through the morning across southwest england. for the rest of us, largely dry, the cloud breaking, some sunny skies developing, and a few isolated showers in the west. temperatures 12 to about 18 degrees — our average at this time of year is roughly about 12 to 14 degrees, north to south. now, as we head from tuesday and into wednesday, our low pressure continues to move north in the atlantic, with its weather fronts trailing across us. they are going to be bringing in rain with them — especially so in western areas — and they'll be followed by some showers, some of which will be heavy and also thundery. it's going to be windy, too, on wednesday, but especially so in the north and the west,

with our temperatures climbing a bit — 12 to about 20 degrees. then, as we head from wednesday into thursday, another area of low pressure comes in — again, looking at isobars, it tells you it's going to be another windy day, but the wind source is coming from the south — which is a mild direction for us. so we've got the showery outbreaks of rain pushing north, drier across the far southeast, and depending on the amount of sunshine that we see here, we could have temperatures get up to 21, possibly as much as 22 degrees.

nominations close within the hour in the conservative party leadership race — we could know this afternoon who is britain's next prime minister. rishi sunak is the clear front runner, with a commanding lead of tory mps — more than half of them are publicly supporting him. i think he's got all the really good ideas on his side and i think he'd be a terrific prime minister, if it comes to that. penny mordaunt is the only other contender after borisjohnson pulled out of the race last night. so far she only has 26 mps publicly supporting her — well short of the 100 she needs to get on to the ballot paper. penny is a fresh face that the country needs, but she is also the unity candidate that the party needs.

penny mordaunt has less than an