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 hour now to make that 100 threshold. her team say this lunchtime that it's going down to the wire and it's extremely close. we'll bring you that announcement at 2 o'clock live in our specially extended coverage programme this afternoon. also this lunchtime... western allies denounce a russian claim that ukraine could use a dirty bomb — there are fears the kremlin might use it as a pretext to escalate the war. phosphate pollution of rivers threatens the building of tens of thousands of new homes. and he's back in the tardis — david tennant travels through time once again to return as dr who. and stay with us here on the bbc news channel 4 continuing coverage and analysis from our team of correspondents in the uk and around the world.

good afternoon. within the next hour or so, we could know who is britain's next prime minister. at two o'clock, norminations close in the conservative party leadership race. rishi sunak has a commanding lead, with 192 tory mps publicly supporting him. after borisjohnson dropped out last night, penny mordaunt is the only other contender. so far she only has 27 mps who've officially backed her — well short of the minimum of 100 she needs to get on the ballot paper. if she doesn't get at least that number, rishi sunak becomes party leader and prime minister. 0ur political correspondent, helen catt has the very latest.

rishi sunak left his campaign headquarters this morning as the favourite to be the next prime minister. by mid—morning, more than half of conservative mps were backing him and his pitch to fix the economy, unite the party and deliver for the country. mil economy, unite the party and deliver for the country-— for the country. all of his arguments _ for the country. all of his arguments have - for the country. all of his arguments have been - for the country. all of his - arguments have been proven to be absolutely correct and i think he would run a very tight ship and a very good administration and actually a bit calmer, which i think is what the people of this country and my constituency here asking for. last night, borisjohnson announced that he would not run in the contest. a number of his supporters, including the cabinet ministers nadhim zahawi and james cleverley have now swung in behind rishi sunak in a call for unity but all.— in a call for unity but all. we've not a in a call for unity but all. we've got a parliamentary _ in a call for unity but all. we've got a parliamentary party - in a call for unity but all. we've| got a parliamentary party which in a call for unity but all. we've i got a parliamentary party which is completely ridden and it is ungovernable. we now have a prospect of having a conservative party leader who doesn't have a mandate for the country and won't even have a mandate from the membership and the country either. he

a mandate from the membership and the country either.— the country either. he backs holding a aeneral the country either. he backs holding a general election _ the country either. he backs holding a general election which _ the country either. he backs holding a general election which the - the country either. he backs holding a general election which the labourl a general election which the labour leader has once again made the case for. , , for. this will be the fifth prime minister in _ for. this will be the fifth prime minister in six _ for. this will be the fifth prime minister in six years. - for. this will be the fifth prime minister in six years. we - for. this will be the fifth prime minister in six years. we have | for. this will be the fifth prime . minister in six years. we have had four chancellors in four months. that _ four chancellors in four months. that isn't— four chancellors in four months. that isn't a _ four chancellors in four months. that isn't a country we are, that is utter_ that isn't a country we are, that is utter chaos — that isn't a country we are, that is utter chaos. and i do think, i think many— utter chaos. and i do think, i think many people listening would be saying. — many people listening would be saying, for heaven sake, at least -ive saying, for heaven sake, at least give us _ saying, for heaven sake, at least give us the — saying, for heaven sake, at least give us the choice between a stable labour_ give us the choice between a stable labour party coming in to govern the party, _ labour party coming in to govern the party, get _ labour party coming in to govern the party, get the economy under control and actually _ party, get the economy under control and actually deliver. fine party, get the economy under control and actually deliver.— and actually deliver. one backbench u-rou and actually deliver. one backbench a-rou of and actually deliver. one backbench grow) of mps _ and actually deliver. one backbench grow) of mps has — and actually deliver. one backbench group of mps has promised - and actually deliver. one backbench group of mps has promised it - and actually deliver. one backbench group of mps has promised it at - group of mps has promised it at least is not planning to cause trouble for whoever wins. the erg have resolved _ trouble for whoever wins. the erg have resolved that _ trouble for whoever wins. the erg have resolved that whoever - trouble for whoever wins. the erg i 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. but and assist them in seeking to unite the conservative party.— the conservative party. but will there be a _ the conservative party. but will there be a contest _ the conservative party. but will there be a contest even - the conservative party. but will there be a contest even within l

the conservative party. but will i there be a contest even within the tory party estimates supporters of penny mordaunt have been racing this morning to gather the 100 backers she needs to get on the ballot. her campaign insisted she was staying in and that members needed to have a say. and that members needed to have a sa . , , . .. ., and that members needed to have a sa. , ., ., and that members needed to have a sa. , ., say. penny is a candidate who can unite all sides _ say. penny is a candidate who can unite all sides of— say. penny is a candidate who can unite all sides of the _ say. penny is a candidate who can unite all sides of the party - say. penny is a candidate who can unite all sides of the party it's - unite all sides of the party it's very important that we actually give people a choice. and during the course ofjust people a choice. and during the course of just the people a choice. and during the course ofjust the next people a choice. and during the course of just the next few people a choice. and during the course ofjust the next few days, both the public and of course, importantly, members, will be able to see the two candidates to make their decision. in to see the two candidates to make their decision.— their decision. in around in our's time, their decision. in around in our's time. the _ their decision. in around in our's time, the senior— their decision. in around in our's time, the senior conservative i their decision. in around in our's| time, the senior conservative mp their decision. in around in our's - time, the senior conservative mp sir graham brady will come as he's done so many times as you, walk into a room in parliament to announce who has made it onto the ballot. we will know then if it is a contest or a coronation. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. so just sojust an so just an hour or so to go. sojust an hour or so to go. we can go live to our political correspondent nick eardley in downing street for us. what is the latest you are hearing on the numbers and can penny mordaunt get to that key figure of 100, the

minimum she needs? look, what we can say with certainty this afternoon is that rishi sunak is their choice of conservative mps. he has a comfortable majority now of conservative mps backing him to be the next prime minister, including a number of figures who actually are quite surprising, key allies of borisjohnson, who were angry at rishi sunakfor borisjohnson, who were angry at rishi sunak for helping borisjohnson, who were angry at rishi sunakfor helping bring down his government but who have now decided that he is the only man who can lead them forward. however, the big question remains unanswered at the moment and we will find out in the moment and we will find out in the next hour, can penny mordaunt get that 100 figure which would push this potentially to a run—off among conservative mps? speaking to her campaign in the last few minutes, they say it is going to go down to they say it is going to go down to the wire and it's extremely close. they claim to have more than 90

backers this afternoon, although we can't verify those figures and the number of mps publicly backing her is considerably lower. it is under 30. team sunak say they are continuing to talk to mps and taking nothing for granted and they will find out in the next hour whether he is to become prime minister within the next day or so. but this afternoon, nobody knows for certain whether ms mordaunt will make it over the line. find whether ms mordaunt will make it over the line.— whether ms mordaunt will make it over the line. and if she does make it over the — over the line. and if she does make it over the line _ over the line. and if she does make it over the line and _ over the line. and if she does make it over the line and she _ over the line. and if she does make it over the line and she can - over the line. and if she does make it over the line and she can take - it over the line and she can take this contest to the wider tory party membership in the country, do things then look less clearfor membership in the country, do things then look less clear for rishi sunak, do you think?- then look less clear for rishi sunak, do you think? yes, because if this was down — sunak, do you think? yes, because if this was down to _ sunak, do you think? yes, because if this was down to conservative - sunak, do you think? yes, because if this was down to conservative mps, i this was down to conservative mps, it would be a done deal. rishi sunak would be prime minister. but we don't know for sure what the conservative membership would say. we know that they picked liz truss

over mr sunak over the summer. they preferred liz truss' promises of tax cuts and governing as she put it in the conservative way. but many conservatives have said over the last few days, privately and publicly, that that has been a disaster. and i do think that means that mr sunak�*s can are more confident they could win this amongst the membership this time. in particular, i have heard from key allies of mr sunak that they think if the vast majority of conservative mps, as seems all but certain now, back mr sunak, the membership would take that into account and would probably rubber—stamp their decision. however, ms mordaunt would fight it to the end and it would be friday before we know for sure who is moving into number 10. qm. friday before we know for sure who is moving into number 10. thank you very much indeed. we will be back with you later. 0ur chief political correspondent, nick eardley. well, what do voters make of this

latest tory leadership race, and the fact that we're about to have our third prime minister in just seven weeks? 0ur correspondent fiona trott is in wakefield in west yorkshire — a seat the conservatives won from labour in the last general election — but which labour then took back, this year, in a by—election. their challenge for the new prime minister in constituencies like this is that people here still want the development and the investment that the conservatives promised that the last election, that was before the pandemic, before the cost of living crisis and after the political upheaval over the past few weeks they want stability and they are looking at westminster and wondering if the new prime minister can deliver all that. wakefield, a red wool seat that fell to the conservatives at the last election and this year, labour won it back again in the by—election. they have seen politicians come and

go but have they had enough of it? i've had enough of it, it's absolutely ridiculous at the end of the day, because they are not in it... they are in it for themselves, not for the people. irate it. .. they are in it for themselves, not for the people.— it... they are in it for themselves, not for the people. we could do with some stability- _ not for the people. we could do with some stability. so _ not for the people. we could do with some stability. so what _ not for the people. we could do with some stability. so what do _ not for the people. we could do with some stability. so what do you - not for the people. we could do with some stability. so what do you want| some stability. so what do you want from the new _ some stability. so what do you want from the new prime _ some stability. so what do you want from the new prime minister- from the new prime minister yourself? what is important to you? somebody who knows how to do their 'ob. somebody who knows how to do their joh i_ somebody who knows how to do their joh iwork— somebody who knows how to do their joh i work in — somebody who knows how to do their job. i work in a school and we are always— job. i work in a school and we are always struggling, the budget is very stretched. we cannot afford to buy books — very stretched. we cannot afford to buy books and staffing, we can't afford _ buy books and staffing, we can't afford staffing. we can't recruit teaching — afford staffing. we can't recruit teaching assistants because wages are really— teaching assistants because wages are really low, so we need more money but — are really low, so we need more money but it has to come from some i said a government have to figure that out — said a government have to figure that out. do said a government have to figure that out. , ., ~ said a government have to figure that out. ,, ~ , ., that out. do you think they will, do ou have that out. do you think they will, do you have faith? _ that out. do you think they will, do you have faith? they _ that out. do you think they will, do you have faith? they will _ that out. do you think they will, do you have faith? they will have - you have faith? they will have to, won't you have faith? they will have to, want they? _ you have faith? they will have to, want they? to — you have faith? they will have to, won't they? to get _ you have faith? they will have to, won't they? to get more - you have faith? they will have to, won't they? to get more money, | you have faith? they will have to, i won't they? to get more money, we have to — won't they? to get more money, we have to tax _ won't they? to get more money, we have to tax people more which is unpcpuiar— have to tax people more which is unpopular but where else will it come _ unpopular but where else will it come from? school uniforms are also come from? — school uniforms are also expensive. this shop owner said some parents are struggling so much he sells them clothes at cost. what do you want

from the new prime minister? if it can hel from the new prime minister? if t can help families financially to survive. they need to develop this area. they need to make rates and rent cheaper, so it attracts people to come in to invest. share rent cheaper, so it attracts people to come in to invest.— to come in to invest. are you hepeful? _ to come in to invest. are you hopeful? not _ to come in to invest. are you hopeful? not very _ to come in to invest. are you hopeful? not very much, - to come in to invest. are you hopeful? not very much, i. to come in to invest. are you - hopeful? not very much, i haven't seen anything _ hopeful? not very much, i haven't seen anything new— hopeful? not very much, i haven't seen anything new for _ hopeful? not very much, i haven't seen anything new for ten - hopeful? not very much, i haven't seen anything new for ten years. | hopeful? not very much, i haven't i seen anything new for ten years. out on the street, stability and security are what many people hope for. i security are what many people hope for. ~' ., , , for. i think whoever gets it, they 'ust need for. i think whoever gets it, they just need to _ for. i think whoever gets it, they just need to really... _ for. i think whoever gets it, they just need to really... i— for. i think whoever gets it, they just need to really... i don't - for. i think whoever gets it, they l just need to really... i don't know. get us _ just need to really... i don't know. get us back— just need to really... i don't know. get us back on track, really. you are working _ get us back on track, really. you are working longer hours and your money— are working longer hours and your money is — are working longer hours and your money isjust going nowhere, it is going _ money isjust going nowhere, it is going on— money isjust going nowhere, it is going on your bills and everything, your food — going on your bills and everything, your food. you know, you are just working _ your food. you know, you are just working basically to pay the bills and eat — working basically to pay the bills and eat. a, , ., i. and eat. more help for the youth. there is a — and eat. more help for the youth. there is a lot _ and eat. more help for the youth. there is a lot more _ and eat. more help for the youth. there is a lot more crime, - and eat. more help for the youth. there is a lot more crime, violent crime on the streets. stronger

police force. crime on the streets. stronger police force-— police force. this is a city that asked to be — police force. this is a city that asked to be levelled - police force. this is a city that asked to be levelled up. - police force. this is a city that i asked to be levelled up. today, police force. this is a city that - asked to be levelled up. today, they are asking if the new prime minister can deliver that. fiona trott, bbc news, wakefield. the challenges facing the new prime minister are daunting: they include long waiting lists in the national health service how to pay for social care and the conflict in ukraine. but by far the most pressing crisis is the state of the economy, with spiralling inflation and mortgage rates — not to mention the rising cost of government borrowing. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity has this report. at this wholesale grocery market near heathrow airport, market traders see close up the effect of the stagnating economy and the worst inflation since the 1980s, made worse by a pound that has lost nearly a fifth of its value in the last year. nearly a fifth of its value in the last year-— nearly a fifth of its value in the last ear. ., , . , ., , last year. petrol prices have been u -. we last year. petrol prices have been up- we have _ last year. petrol prices have been up. we have had _ last year. petrol prices have been up. we have had labour— last year. petrol prices have been up. we have had labour strikes. last year. petrol prices have been up. we have had labour strikes at the docks, so produce is delayed.

the effect over the last couple of weeks _ the effect over the last couple of weeks with the pound crashing against — weeks with the pound crashing against all other currencies, for example — against all other currencies, for example especially the dollar, has caused _ example especially the dollar, has caused a _ example especially the dollar, has caused a lot of heavy price rises. a caused a lot of heavy price rises. recruitment crisis has been holding business back across the economy. 0ur business back across the economy. our biggest challenge has been a shortage — 0ur biggest challenge has been a shortage of— our biggest challenge has been a shortage of labour, _ our biggest challenge has been a shortage of labour, so _ our biggest challenge has been a shortage of labour, so we'd - our biggest challenge has been a| shortage of labour, so we'd really be looking — shortage of labour, so we'd really be looking at _ shortage of labour, so we'd really be looking at our— shortage of labour, so we'd really be looking at our new _ shortage of labour, so we'd really be looking at our new prime - shortage of labour, so we'd really. be looking at our new prime minister to help _ be looking at our new prime minister to help assist — be looking at our new prime minister to help assist businesses _ be looking at our new prime minister to help assist businesses like - to help assist businesses like ourselves— to help assist businesses like ourselves and _ to help assist businesses like ourselves and across - to help assist businesses like ourselves and across other. ourselves and across other industries _ ourselves and across other industries to— ourselves and across other industries to fill— ourselves and across other industries to fill that - ourselves and across other industries to fill that gap. i ourselves and across other. industries to fill that gap. on financial industries to fill that gap. financial markets, traders industries to fill that gap.“ financial markets, traders had sold uk government bonds on friday following news that borisjohnson might come back. effectively dozen demanding higher interest rates but this morning news he had ruled himself out, rates came down again. economists fear that after the mini—budget, the fiscal pendulum may swing too far back the other way. when we get the fiscal plan on halloween, the 31st of october, we will probably see further tax rises. we will probably see cuts in public spending and it will be this wild swing from a mini—budget in

september, which saw big tax cuts, to a almost second budget at the end of october, with tax rises and spending cuts. so a huge swing in government policy. the spending cuts. so a huge swing in government policy.— spending cuts. so a huge swing in government policy. the amount of borrowin: government policy. the amount of borrowing the _ government policy. the amount of borrowing the government - government policy. the amount of borrowing the government needsl government policy. the amount of. borrowing the government needs to cover the gap between attacks that collect and it spending has been falling rapidly since the pandemic, without the need for any austerity. the bond markets want to see a credible plan from the government but that doesn't mean they are demanding austerity now. the risk is that a government intent on proving its fiscal credentials goes too far too fast, with spending cuts or tax rises, making any impending recession worse than any recovery weaker. that is what happened after the last big financial crisis and the last big financial crisis and the result was the worst decade for improvement in living standards and 200 years. business leaders want the new government to fix what many of them see as the root cause of the economy's weakness, a badly negotiated brexit deal. brexit as neaotiated negotiated brexit deal. brexit as

negotiated is _ negotiated brexit deal. brexit as negotiated is frankly _ negotiated brexit deal. brexit as negotiated is frankly a _ negotiated brexit deal. brexit as negotiated is frankly a disaster. | negotiated is frankly a disaster. brexit is done, the issue is what type of brexit we have and it has to be brexit which is renegotiated, pragmatically, with the interests of the whole of the british people and notjust minority groups or people with ideological beliefs.— with ideological beliefs. whilst some of the — with ideological beliefs. whilst some of the economy's - with ideological beliefs. whilst i some of the economy's problems with ideological beliefs. whilst - some of the economy's problems are global, others like the fallout from the mini—budget and the brexit deal are not. dealing with both global and domestic causes is a tall order for any new government. andy verity, bbc news. one of the other pressing challenges facing the new prime minister will be nhs waiting lists — at a time when officials are warning that this winter could see a so—called �*twindemic�* — both covid and flu. and all this at a time when the number of staff vacancies are at record levels. 0ur health correspondent jim reed has more. with your right leg, we found a tumour... we need more nurses — that's the message from the nhs today.

we are the nhs. we are recruiting now, search "nursing careers".