Tory MP hides behind a chair to avoid endorsing a new leader

Where's a fridge when you need one! 

The Conservative leadership contest has started to heat up, with a big field of candidates putting their names forward to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Britain will have a new PM by 5th September, it was announced today, as the Chair of the 1922 Committee said candidates will now need 20 MP backers to enter in a move to speed up the process. So far only two contenders have the support of the 20 Tory MPs needed to get them on to the ballot. The nine remaining hopefuls were scrambling to shore up support by Tuesday night before knockout votes begin on Wednesday afternoon, with the first results announced later that day. Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt are the early favourites in the contest, with Liz Truss and Tom Tugendhat outsiders to replace Johnson. A recent poll showed ‘None of the above’ is now the most popular choice for the next leader among the public. And the mood among Tory MPs seems equally subdued. According to Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, she walked in on a Tory veteran hiding behind a chair this week as he tried to avoid endorsing a candidate. "I’ve had 11 phone calls! 11!", he said, "And I’m not endorsing any of that lot! I’ve told them but they keep calling me!" https://twitter.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1546613873532452864?s=20&t=s8hr8oSUfkXkrhML3KT6Ow Related Links

• Downing Street ‘not aware’ of Stanley Johnson knighthood plans
• Rishi Sunak announces Conservative leadership bid following Boris Johnson's resignation
• Boris Johnson: The Prime Minister has agreed to stand down