The Latest Breaking News from Mel Stride

Watch as Tom Tugendhat launches his Conservative Party leadership campaign in central London on Tuesday 3 September.

Only one of the six Tory leadership candidates was recognised by more than half the participants of focus groups run by think tank More in Common

Badenoch and Jenrick are the bookies’ favourites but the party’s reduced ranks make the numbers extremely tight

None of the candidates may seem like a good option, but some pose a greater danger to net zero than others

The six contenders are touting branded goods alongside policy, while organisers are just trying to make the crowning of the new leader as conflict-free as possible

The Conservatives would be better able to stand one another if the party could work out what it actually stands for

Conservative MPs will narrow down the number of candidates to just two before the contest goes to a vote among Tory members to decide a winner by November 2

The prime minister has been warned the double hit will lead to disaster for many pensioners

The Conservative leadership contest is something of a sideshow to the meaningful politics of government. Whoever wins will inherit a depleted party reeling from arguably its worst ever election defeat. It comprises only 121 MPs, many now in marginal seats (77 are defending majorities where just a 5% swing would…