Race for No 10: a timeline of the contest for next PM

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Thursday 20 October

1.35pm: Liz Truss resigns as Conservative party leader and says she will step down as prime minister by 28 October, making her the shortest-serving British prime minister in history.

2.15pm: Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, says he has spoken to the party chair, Jake Berry, and they agreed they can conclude a leadership election by Friday 28 October, and that party members will be involved in the process.

2.43pm: It emerges that Boris Johnson, on holiday in the Dominican Republic, is “taking soundings” on entering the Tory leadership contest. Rishi Sunak quickly emerges as most likely frontrunner; the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, rules himself out.

3.29pm: It emerges that Penny Mordaunt is considering a leadership bid.

3.38pm: The former Conservative PM Theresa May urges Tory MPs to “compromise” as they choose a new leader. Tory MP Sir Robert Syms says it would be “mad” to choose Johnson.

5.30pm: Brady announces the timetable for election and says candidates will need 100 MP nominations by Monday 2pm to be able to stand, guaranteeing that no more than three candidates can make it to a ballot of Conservative MPs held on the same day. A second MPs’ ballot, if needed, was timetabled to be announced at 9pm on Monday before the shortlist of two goes to party members.

Friday 21 October

7.10am: The founder of the ConservativeHome website, Tim Montgomerie, says the prospect of Boris Johnson making it into the final stage of the Tory party leadership race should be taken “very” seriously. Johnson could receive “close to 140” nominations from Tory MPs. A poll by People Polling puts the Tories on 14%, the lowest in British polling history, 39 points behind Labour.

9.18am: Jacob Rees-Mogg backs Johnson, the first cabinet minister to do so, with the hashtag #BorisOrBust.

11.18am: Former cabinet ministers Gavin Williamson and shortly afterwards Liam Fox back Sunak.

12.35pm: There are claims that a dozen Conservatives will resign the whip if Johnson wins.

3.33pm: Mordaunt confirms she is a candidate, tweeting “#PM4PM”.

4.58pm: Sajid Javid backs Sunak. By the evening the Sunak camp claims their candidate has the support of more than 100 MPs. William Hague says re-electing Johnson would put the Tories in a “death spiral”.

8.43pm: Charles Moore, writing in the Telegraph, urges Johnson to “sit out” the contest. The Daily Mail urges Sunak and Johnson to unite to save the Tories.

Saturday 22 October

10.19am: Johnson lands at Gatwick airport on return from holiday. He was reportedly booed as he took his seat on the plane.

12.20pm: Steve Barclay, Johnson’s former chief of staff, backs Sunak.

6.05pm: Kemi Badenoch backs Sunak. Sunak’s team claims 126 MPs by the end of Saturday. At some point on Saturday night Sunak and Johnson talk.

Sunday 23 October

9am: Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, says Johnson has more than 100 backers. Mordaunt – still the only publicly declared candidate at this point – speaks to Laura Kuenssberg on her Sunday programme but offers no commitments on spending. Nadhim Zahawi, who told Johnson to resign has PM, says he will back him. Jacob Rees-Mogg says Johnson has enough votes to get on the ballot, adding: “He has been the greatest electoral asset the Conservative party has had in modern times.”

10.36am: Sunak confirms his candidacy.

11.20am: Grant Shapps backs Sunak.

1.45pm: Suella Braverman backs Sunak.

2.05pm: James Cleverly backs Johnson.

5.49pm: A WhatsApp message is leaked from Heaton-Harris in Johnson’s camp saying: “We have completed all the paperwork (verified all nominations with proposer and seconder) to be on the ballot tomorrow.” This is greeted with scepticism.

9pm: Johnson pulls out of race, leaving Sunak the clear frontrunner.

9.29pm: Nadhim Zahawi, who had backed Johnson, backs Sunak.

10.25pm: Sunak praises Johnson. “I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad.” Mordaunt indicates she continues to be a candidate.