The Conservatives are considering a review of their leadership contest rules after the 12th candidate entered the race to succeed Theresa May as prime minister.
Nigel Evans, executive secretary of the 1922 Committee, warned the field could swell to as many as 20 as Mark Harper, the former chief whip, announced his intention to stand.
Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn was facing increasing pressure over Labour party policy on Brexit as former spin doctor Alastair Campbell described it as “bonkers”.
This live blog has now closed, but you can see Friday's events below
Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog where we will be bringing you all the updates from Westminster - and the ongoing race to succeed Theresa May in Downing Street.
The former chief whip Mark Harper has become the 12th candidate to enter the Tory leadership race, claiming he offers “fresh thinking”.
He joins Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart, Esther McVey, Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom, Matt Hancock, Kit Malthouse and James Cleverly.
Former Tory chief whip Mark Harper announces he is standing in Tory leadership race
Forest of Dean MP attacks cabinet rivals for ‘sharing responsibility with the prime minister’ for Brexit impasseSo where do they all stand on Brexit?
Boris Johnson, the favourite to succeed Theresa May, has vowed to take Britain out of the EU on October 31, "deal or no deal".
Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary, has said he would prefer to leave the EU with a deal, but added that the UK must "calmly demonstrate unflinching resolve to leave in October - at the latest".
Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, voted Remain in 2016 and appears to be in favour of leaving the EU with a deal. "Doing deals is my bread and butter as someone who has set up their own business," he said.
Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, also wants a deal. He says a no-deal Brexit would be "a huge mistake, damaging, unnecessary, and I think also dishonest".
Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, says the UK should be prepared to leave the EU with no deal. "We must now leave the EU on October 31 with a clean break," she said.
Matt Hancock, the health minister, says he would take a different approach to the one Theresa May used in order to get Commons support for a Brexit deal. He told the BBC that a no-deal Brexit "simply won't be allowed by Parliament".
Andrea Leadsom, former leader of the House of Commons, says that if she was PM the UK would quit the EU in October with or without a deal.
Michael Gove, the environment secretary, says he is "ready to deliver Brexit" but has so far avoided the question of whether he would be prepared to lead the UK out of the EU without a deal.
Sajid Javid, the home secretary, backed Remain in the referendum but has since positioned himself as a firm Leaver. He says his party "must get on and deliver Brexit".
Kit Malthouse, the housing minister, is best known for attempting to bring Leavers and Remainers together for the so-called "Malthouse Compromise" on Theresa May's withdrawal agreement. It seeks to replace the backstop with "alternative arrangements".
James Cleverly says be believes "the case for Brexit is still valid" but claims that leaving without a deal is "not his preferred choice".
Mark Harper backed Remain in the referendum but claims he has the best chance of solving Brexit because he did not serve in the government that failed to deliver a deal.
QUB Conservatives on Twitter
“Great day out meeting Her Majesty’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP. He delivered a very interesting speech which addressed how the United Kingdom will leave the European Union and do so with an agreed deal. @sajidjavid @NIConservative @RowanWise1 @Aaron_Rankin87 @Conservatives”Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, has compared the large number of candidates to the "Charge of the Light Brigade".
He was one of only five candidates to stand in the 2001 leadership contest, beating Ken Clarke in the members ballot after Michael Portillo, David Davis and Michael Ancram were eliminated.
Mr Duncan Smith said the swollen field had left the Conservative Party "looking like chaos" and urged the 1922 Committee to look at the rules which allowed MPs to stand with only two backers.
Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn is facing increasing pressure to clarify Labour Party policy on Brexit following the disappointing European election results.
Alastair Campbell, the former spin doctor, said Labour could be wiped out unless it backed a Final Say, and risked ushering Boris Johnson into Downing Street and paving the way for a no-deal Brexit.
Here's our report from political correspondent Lizzy Buchan.
Labour will be 'complicit' in electing Boris Johnson if they don't propose credible Brexit plan, says Alastair Campbell
It comes as Liberal Democrats top shock new pollThe Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, are riding high as a new poll suggests it has become the most popular party in the country, with 24 per cent.
Liberal Democrats become most popular party closely followed by Brexit Party, poll suggests
Conservatives and Labour slip to joint third placeThe Lib Dems are also staging a leadership contest, as Vince Cable is due to stand down on 23 July.
Jo Swinson and Sir Ed Davey are both in the running for the job.
Jo Swinson enters race to become next Liberal Democrat leader
Deputy leader says she is the right person to lead the ‘liberal movement’That poll - which showed the Brexit Party in second with 22 per cent - has been described by Nigel Farage as "an establishment attempt to suppress the truth".
Nigel Farage on Twitter
“You Gov have released a poll showing the Lib Dems top in the country, with @brexitparty_uk second. They did not have the BP option on the list and we were hidden in ‘others’. Looks like an establishment attempt to suppress the truth. #FakePolling”Jeremy Corbyn has so far resisted pressure to start campaigning for a Final Say vote on Brexit, presumably with an option to Remain.
Len McCluskey, the general secretary of the Unite union, has backed the existing policy and warned that it would be "electorally suicidal" to contemplate cancelling Brexit.
Corbyn resists pressure to campaign for Final Say Brexit vote
Irish taoiseach told him that the chances of a further extension to the Article 50 Brexit process were ‘slim’Eight out of the 12 Conservative leadership candidates have described themselves as feminists, following Dominic Raab's comments that he was "probably not".
Esther McVey, Kit Malthouse and Mark Harper have so far not answered, or been asked, the question.
Andy Wigmore, the prominent Brexit campaigner who likes to hang around with Nigel Farage and Arron Banks, has been accused of racially abusing Remain campaigner Femi Oluwole on Twitter by saying he looks like Diane Abbott.
Brexit campaigner accused of 'revolting racism' for saying black Remainer 'looks like Diane Abbott'
Andy Wigmore ‘basically just told me all black people look alike’, says Femi OluwoleThe tweet was reported but appears to have passed Twitter's rigorous rules concerning abuse on social media.
Andy Wigmore on Twitter
“For all of you having a go about my comments about @Femi_Sorry see below - It’s rude what I said but its not racist, complete fake remoaner outrage as usual.”Bad news for fans of political mud-slinging... Three of the Conservative leadership candidates have signed up to a "Clean Campaign Pledge".
Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid have all vowed not to speak ill of their fellow Conservatives or "engage in personality attacks".
Dominic Raab on Twitter
“Delighted that @MattHancock and @SajidJavid have joined with me for this Clean Campaign Pledge. Fighting a clean campaign is essential if we want to unite our party again.”YouGov have responded to complaints that their latest poll was rigged against Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, stating that putting them and other small parties in the "other" category gave more accurate results.
YouGov on Twitter
“Here's how we prompt for the Brexit Party, and why it's more accurate https://t.co/AS6bk2DBd2”“I am sick to death of Brexit,“ Elton John said at a concert in Verona. ”I am a European. I am not a stupid, colonial, imperialist English idiot.”
Elton John attacks Brexit and says he's not a 'stupid, colonial English idiot'
He criticised those who backed the Leave campaign in 2016Labour MPs have demanded the expulsion of a member of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee after a recording emerged of him blaming antisemitism allegations on the Israeli Embassy.
Senior Labour official blames antisemitism allegations on Israeli Embassy in recorded conversation
MPs have demanded the expulsion of Pete Willsman from the party's ruling National Executive CommitteeTom Watson, the Labour deputy leader, says Pete Willsman should be suspended immediately.
The fact that a member of Labour's governing body feels he can continue to make such offensive remarks after being warned for similar outbursts previously shows how serious the problem of antisemitism is in our party.
The general secretary must make good on the promise that was made following Mr Willsman's previous outburst that he would face disciplinary action if he engaged in similar conduct again.
He must be suspended from the NEC and from party membership immediately.
If you have an insatiable hunger for a detailed discussion of no-deal Brexit preparations across Europe, then this is for you.
