Tory chiefs change leadership rules to knock out no-hope candidates
Anyone failing to secure the backing of at least 8 MPs next week will be unable to stand at all
TORY leadership contenders will need the support of at least EIGHT MPs to stand for election – under radical rule changes agreed today.
And anyone failing to secure the backing of at least 17 MPs will be knocked out after the first round.
The powerful 1922 backbench committee voted through the changes today in a desperate attempt to fast-track the election of a new leader.
Senior Tories were worried the huge number of candidates – 12 as of this morning – may have delayed the leadership contest beyond the summer break.
Now the hope is a final two candidates will be picked by MPs by June 24th – and a successor to Theresa May will be in place by the end of July.
Under the rule change, MPs wanting to stand will need a proposer, seconder and at least 6 other Tories signed up.
To move beyond the first ballot, candidates will need to win 5 per cent of the vote – 17 MPs.
To progress beyond the second one, they will need 10 per cent of the party to back them – 33 MPs.
The 8-name threshold would currently exclude Mark Harper, Kit Malthouse, Esther McVey, Rory Stewart, Andrea Leadsom (& Sam Gyimah, who doesn't have 2 nominations yet).
But all the current frontrunners including Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Sajid Javid would be able to stand.
Earlier today James Cleverly pulled out of the race saying he didn't have enough support - but blamed his Tory colleagues for not being willing to accept an outside.
Yesterday Tories demanded others drop out to stop the contest dragging on.
James Brokenshire said the race was a "shambles" and there were too many running.
Boris Johnson is the current frontrunner and has the most support from MPs so far.
But Michael Gove and Dominic Raab are closing in behind him too.
The PM will officially step down as Tory leader and kickstart the contest on Friday.
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