The two candidates face a battle royale this afternoon as they try to secure a place on the Tory member ballot against Rishi Sunak this summer. Simon Clarke, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was asked by Sky News why he shared criticism of Ms Mordaunt from Lord Frost, who said a Mordaunt premiership would not succeed. “I think it’s very important that people hear about the assessment of the qualities of the people who are standing,” Mr Clarke told Sky. “Lord Frost’s warning is not an isolated one, it has been echoed by many people. “I think it’s absolutely critical that people who, as I said, have worked closely with the candidates, make their views clear. And people’s readiness for that job on day one is critical. That’s of course one of the reasons for whom I am supporting the Minister of Foreign Affairs”. It came as Tobias Ellwood, who was stripped of the Tory whip yesterday, warned the public was “sick of blue-on-blue” fighting after a bitter week of the leadership race. Follow the latest updates below.
