UNDERDOG Kemi Badenoch could pull a blinder today and make it to the top three of the Tory race to be PM.
The leadership hopeful's popularity surged in recent days, with last night's round of voting putting her in touching distance of third place.
The fight to be PM stepped up a gear yesterday as the field of wannabe Tory leaders narrowed from five to four.
Tom Tugendhat crashed out the contest after receiving the lowest vote share.
Rishi Sunak continued to storm ahead in first place on 116 votes, followed by Penny Mordaunt in second.
TORY LEADERSHIP RACE – TIMETABLE
WEDNESDAY July 13
– 1.30-3.30pm: Tory MPs voted in person or by proxy in Parliament for their preferred candidate to be the next party leader.
– Around 5pm: The results of the first round were announced by 1922 chair Sir Graham Brady. Both Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt crashed out after failing to reach the 30-vote threshold.
– Straight after: The remaining candidates fielded questions from Tory MPs at the 1922 hustings.
THURSDAY July 14
– Tory MPs voted in the second ballot as the candidate with the fewest votes was eliminated.
FRIDAY July 15
– The remaining candidates go head to head in the first TV debate live on Channel 4 at 7pm.
SUNDAY July 17
– They will then do battle again with a debate on ITV at 7pm.
MONDAY July 18 – The five remaining candidates are put before Tory MPs at the third ballot. One more will be eliminated.
TUESDAY July 19 – WEDNESDAY July 20
– Knockout ballots will happen daily until just two candidates are left standing on Wednesday.
FRIDAY July 22
– The final two candidates tour the country trying to win the votes of 100,000 or so ordinary party members who will decide the next PM.
MONDAY September 5
– The results of the vote is announced and Britain's next PM is revealed
But it was the race for third that sent shockwaves through Westminster, as as the gap between Liz Truss and Ms Badenoch dramatically shrunk.
The two will spend today fighting tooth and nail to win over Mr Tugendhat’s supporters and make the final three.
Ms Badenoch said: "It’s all to play for. Continued momentum, closing the gap, I am the only change candidate left in the race.
"I’m in it to win."
The former Levelling Up Minister has been praised by supporters for her no-nonsense approach to politics.
She is running on a platform of always telling the truth – even when it's inconvenient – and being honest about the difficult choices the country faces.
Ms Badenoch has ruled out making "fairy-tale" tax cut pledges but ultimately wants to see less working people forced to fill government coffers with their hard earned pay.
Voting will take place from midday, with the results announced at 3pm.
Tomorrow, the final MP's ballot will take place and the top two will be chosen.
READ MORE POLITICS
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Tory rivals gang up on Penny Mordaunt in bid to stop her being next PM
Ms Truss kicked off the morning with a pledge to hike defence spending to three per cent by 2030.
She said: "We live in an increasingly dangerous world where the threat level is higher than a decade ago.
"As Prime Minister, I will get defence spending to 3% by 2030 to keep this country safe. People can trust me to do that."
Ms Mordaunt set out her plan to save and grow the UK economy, vowing to follow the principles of "innovation, investment, infrastructure and incentives".
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THE FINAL 4 – WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY PROMISING?
RISHI SUNAK
Key pitch: No tax cuts until inflation under control
The former Chancellor has laid out his stall as the candidate for economic responsibility while rivals go gung-ho on tax cuts.
He has promised to cut taxes only when inflation has been brought under control, warning to do so now would just hike prices higher.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes when inflation is down and public finances are repaired
- Plough on with the planned rise to 25 per cent corporation tax
- Keep the Rwanda immigration policy to cut small boats crossings
- Keep defence spending at current levels with no increase
- Publish a manifesto to protect women's rights
- Open the door to scrapping the BBC Licence Fee in the future
KEMI BADENOCH
Key pitch: Pull funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
Rising star Kemi Badenoch has signalled she wants tax cuts but is refusing to enter the "bidding war" among candidates to slash them the most.
Instead she is serving up a platter of red meat policies that are going down a storm with many Tory MPs.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes and rein in spending
- Opposes Net Zero 2050 target
- Open to the withdrawal from the Euro court
- Reduce funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
- Scrap the Online Harms Bill
- Reduce the amount spent on foreign aid
LIZ TRUSS
Key pitch: Tax cuts on day one as PM
Liz Truss is also pledging to cut taxes on her first day in office if she wins the contest.
The Foreign Secretary – who is yet to formally launch her campaign – has also vowed to publicly recognise China's persecution of Uighurs as a genocide.
Key policies:
- Reverse NICs hike and cut taxes from day one
- Reform the Euro court and leave altogether if not possible
- Publicly recognise the genocide in China
- Reduce the size of the state in comparison to the private sector
PENNY MORDAUNT
Key pitch: Halve VAT on fuel immediately
The Trade Minister says she is the candidate that Labour would fear most in a general election.
She has promised to slash taxes and help families by solving the childcare crisis.
Key Policies:
- Immediate 50% cut to fuel duty
- Establish a taskforce to address the “paralysis” in the NHS
- Appoint a cabinet minister with responsibility for family policies
- Repeal 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
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