The Chamberlain News

Tories fast-track leadership contest as Labour’s Corbyn woes continue

A new Conservative party leader and prime minister could be in place by September 2 after the party’s backbench MPs voted for a fast-track election process.

Nominations for Tory MPs wishing to stand for leader will open this Wednesday, June 29, and close a day later.

The party’s MPs will vote every Tuesday and Thursday until the final two candidates are selected.

The two successful candidates will then go forward to a ballot of the party membership with the final result being declared on September.

David Cameron when announcing his decision to stand down following the EU referendum said he hoped a new leader could be in place by the party conference at the beginning of October.

But the Tory backbench 1922 Committee which sets rules for the contest decided to endorse a much faster process today, possibly to take advantage of the Labour party’s own leadership difficulties.

Leading Brexit supporter Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, is the clear favourite to win the leadership and become prime minister, if MPs decide to put his name on the ballot paper.

It’s believed Mr Johnson will announce his leadership bid imminently with the backing of Jusitce Secretary Michael Gove and possibly the Chancellor, George Osborne.

His main opponent is likely to be Theresa May, the Home Secretary.

Former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox is also considering running.

There were more front bench resignations in the Labour party today as the uprising against Jeremy Corbyn showed no sign of running out of steam.

More than a third of the shadow cabinet has now resigned, as well as a number of front bench spokespersons.

Today’s events included:

Angela Eagle resigned as shadow business secretary and shadow first secretary of state.

Maria Eagle resigned as shadow culture secretary.

Nia Griffith resigned as shadow Wales secretary.

John Healey resigned as shadow housing minister.

Luciana Berger resigned as shadow mental health minister.

Kate Green resigned as shadow women and equalities minister.

Yvonne Fovargue resigned as shadow business minister.

Nick Thomas-Symonds resigned as shadow work and pensions minister.

Susan Elan Jones resigned as shadow Wales minister.

Gerald Jones resigned as shadow parliamentary private secretary to the shadow Wales team.

Labour MPs will meet tonight to debate a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn.

Earlier today deputy Labour leader Tom Watson met Mr Corbyn and is believed to have told him the party has no confidence in his leadership, although he stopped short of telling him to resign.