Ten Conservative MPs have formally entered the race to succeed Theresa May, as several outsiders scored enough support to get onto the ballot paper.
Sam Gyimah, who was the only second referendum candidate, withdrew from the race moments before senior Tories announced the shortlist, which included big-hitters such as Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab.
Outsiders Rory Stewart, Andrea Leadsom, Esther McVey and Mark Harper also made it to the starting line, despite speculation that some would struggle to secure the necessary support.
It comes as Mr Johnson, the frontrunner in the race, faced an angry backlash over his plan to raise the 40p income tax threshold at a cost of nearly £10bn – handing thousands of pounds a year back to people on salaries of between £50,000 and £80,000.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of UK politics on Monday.
Here are a couple of stories to catch you up...
Conservative leadership contender Rory Stewart has launched a furious broadside at rival Boris Johnson, accusing the former foreign secretary of not being honest about his Brexit plans and challenging him to rule out suspending parliament to force through no deal, writes Andrew Woodcock.
Speaking to The Independent, Mr Stewart said the leadership front-runner was trying to “out-Farage Farage” with an undeliverable plan to renegotiate Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement which was designed to usher in no-deal Brexit but would instead trigger a disastrous general election.
And he blasted Mr Johnson’s “swaggering machismo” over Brexit, which he said risked poisoning the UK’s relations with Europe.
And Michael Gove is still in trouble over the admission he took cocaine.
A former Conservative Party chair has said Mr Gove should quit the leadership race after admitting taking the class A drug, writes Andrew Woodcock.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who chaired the party from 2010-12, said it was “completely inappropriate” for Mr Gove to stay in the contest after confirming that he took the drug at several social occasions while a young journalist.
Mr Gove was forced to deny having given inaccurate replies about his past drug use in security forms when entering parliament and travelling to the US. And he dismissed as “foolish” suggestions that he might be barred from the US as prime minister as a result.
Labour is making hay with Boris Johnson's planned tax cut for higher earners.
Amber Rudd, who is backing Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership, has insisted MPs will block no-deal Brexit.
The work and pensions secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is a fact that Parliament will intervene to try and stop no deal.
"I think the best shot we have of breaking this impasse is for Jeremy Hunt to use his best endeavours... to try and break it."
Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has fiercely criticised Mr Johnson's plans for tax cuts.
She tweeted: "No No No, Boris Johnson tax cut plan for higher earners is the absolute last thing we need.
"I thought the Tory leadership candidate couldn't get anymore out of touch with ordinary people but l was wrong, tax cuts at this time for the higher paid is not the answer to our problems".
Nominations are formally open to stand in the Tory leadership contest, meaning the race to succeed Theresa May will begin in earnest today.
Candidates have already been on the air ahead of campaign launches later today.
Asked about Michael Gove's admission of using cocaine in the past, fellow candidate Andrea Leadsom told the BBC: "I certainly think that we need to ensure that we continue with our very strict drug policies in this country.
"I think it does untold harm to young people - not only drug-taking, but also getting caught up in some of the drug crime, and gang crime. And I think it's a grave concern for all politicians."
And Rory Stewart has come out against Boris Johnson's tax cuts plan.
Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, has come out to bat for the embattled Michael Gove.
She told the BBC: "What we are talking about with Michael is something he did 20 years ago.
"Before he had any intention, or desire, probably, to go into public life.
"And I really think that past mistakes should not put talented people off politics, particularly at this moment of national crisis."
Meanwhile, the former Conservative MP Nick Boles is despairing of his ex-colleagues' leadership pledges.
Dominic Raab is not expected to focus on Brexit in his speech launching his leadership bid.
The former Brexit secretary, who is considered among the most hardline candidates when it comes to the most pressing issue currently facing British politicians, will measures on the environment.
The plans include a National Energy Research Centre to search for new ways to produce cheap clean energy, an increase in the Research and Development Expenditure Credit from 12 per cent to 13 per cent, and a dedicated £500m International Wildlife Fund to boost biodiversity, species preservation, and nature conservation.
In his speech, he will say: "We've got to look to the future. We've got to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
"The Luddite Labour party won't come up with credible answers to climate change.
"So, as Conservatives, we've got to harness the power of innovation and technology to forge an energy policy that makes environmental and economic sense."
Here's a look at how his support levels compare with his rivals'.
The Liberal Democrats have also criticised Boris Johnson's tax cut plans.
Jo Swinson's fellow Lib Dem leadership candidate Ed Davey tweeted: ""The biggest gainers from Boris' unfair tax cuts for the rich? Wealthy pensioners. Is this a tax cut targeted on the majority of Conservative Party members?"
Andrea Leadsom has panned Boris Johnson's tax cuts plan by saying that "in reality, in this parliament, it will be impossible to actually get whole-scale tax changes through".
Matt Hancock will be the first leadership candidate to hold a launch event today, at 10am.
Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab have, unfortunately, both chosen to speak at 11am.
Esther McVey is due to launch her bid at 12pm, while Michael Gove will wait until 2.50pm.
Amber Rudd has backed Jeremy Hunt to be the next prime minister in a major blow to rival contender Michael Gove, writes Peter Stubley.
The work and pensions secretary described her cabinet colleague as ”a winner with a track record of success in business and in government”.
Writing in The Times, Ms Rudd, who resigned as home secretary over the Windrush immigration scandal but is now an influential voice within the One Nation group of Tories, said: “These are serious times and we need a respected statesman who Brussels will listen to, not more bluster.”
Andrea Leadsom has joined criticism of Boris Johnson's tax plans, telling the BBC they would never get through parliament.
She says:
"I think, in reality, in this Parliament, it will be impossible, to actually get whole-scale tax changes through."
The first of the four Tory campaign launches today is Matt Hancock's, at 10am. It hasn't started yet, but the famously tech-loving health secretary has already impressed journalists at the event with waffles, party bags and free portable phone chargers...
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is now speaking at the launch of his leadership campaign.
He begins by talking up the UK, saying: "Britain isn't broken - it's politics that is in a rut."
He says the country "needs a fresh start" and that's why he is standing for leader.
Sounding a bit like a motivational speaker or spiritual guru, he adds:
"Every single person, every person in this room, each and every one of you, everyone has something to give.
And it’s the role of government to unlock that potential and allow people to fly as high as their aspirations can take them.
Now not everyone believes this.
But I know, I know, that if you look inside the heart of every person there is something of value, and it’s our job to help them release it.
And that’s what politics should be: at the service of people."
Matt Hancock says his plan for Brexit "is the only credible plan that can deliver Brexit by the 31 October with the support both of the European Union and of the House of Commons - that is just the reality of the situation".
He says Theresa May's plan has failed but that no deal would not get through the Commons.
Attacking Dominic Raab's suggestion that parliament could be suspended if it tries to block a no-deal Brexit, Mr Hancock says this "goes against everything that those men who waded onto those beaches [on D-Day] fought and died for".
NEW: The UK economy has shrunk by four times more than expected
UK economy shrinks by four times as much as predicted
Car production slumped 24% as manufacturers shut down plants temporarily in anticipation of no-deal exit from EU that did not happenHere are some of the best quotes from Matt Hancock's slightly bizarre speech at his campaign launch this morning...
"I believe in people. I love people."
"My mantra is: move fast and make things happen."
"I know that if you look inside the heart of every person, there is something of value, and it’s our job to help them release it.
"It’s not so much the back story that’s important - it’s the front story"
"I offer an emotionally charged platform."
