We’ll know who is in race to be next PM by Thursday – and they’ll be in No10 a month earlier than Cam’s schedule
Boris Johnson and Theresa May are the favourites to succeed David Cameron
BRITAIN could have a new Prime Minister in as little as 67 days after the Tories fired the starting gun on a Conservative leadership election.
The party’s 1922 Committee executive has recommended the contest begins on Wednesday, with nominations and votes wrapped up by the end of play on Thursday.
At an emergency meeting in Westminster, the committee agreed unanimously that the contest should be run under the same rules as 2005, which will see MPs pick two candidates to put to the wider membership.
The speedy process - which has to be signed off by the party board on Tuesday and a full meeting of the backbench committee on Wednesday - would appear to favour established candidates.
Pro-Brexit Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Theresa May, who backed Remain, are leading a pack of at least 10 senior figures tipped to be contenders in the battle to succeed David Cameron.
The September date would be one month ahead of Mr Cameron’s own timetable for departure, ahead of the Tory party conference in October.
How will it work?
Candidates must apply to the chairman of the 1922 Committee in the wake of David Cameron's resignation.
The 330 Tory MPs then thin the field to two candidates by nominating their preferred candidates by the close of play on Thursday.
The pair's names are then put to the Conservative party membership numbering around 150,000 who ultimately decide.
A result could be announced on September 2.
Under the proposed timetable, nominations would open as backbenchers rubber stamp it at their regular Wednesday evening gathering and close at noon the following day.
"We then recommend that the process of electing a new leader of the Conservative Party should commence next week - with the beginning of any necessary parliamentary ballots - and conclude no later than Friday September 2, although an earlier conclusion may be possible," Mr Brady said.
Mr Johnson summoned friendly Tory MPs to his Oxfordshire home on Sunday in likely preparation for a run at the party's leadership, as the Home Secretary was reportedly sounding out colleagues.
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Mrs May is thought to be the main contender to take on the former London mayor and a plot dubbed "ABB" (Anyone But Boris) has reportedly begun, organised by ministers and aides loyal to Mr Cameron.
Other challengers could also include pro-Remain MPs Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and Energy and Climate Secretary Amber Rudd.
Boris is evens to become the next PM and bookmakers have Ms May at 13-8. These are the other runners and riders.