Conservative leadership race: A messy, volitile contest that exposes cracks within the party

It’s been a shocking few weeks in Downing Street and as we get closer to the finish, the race for No 10 is heating up. 

A mass exodus of MPs, triggered by the shock double resignation of then chancellor Rishi Sunak and then health secretary Sajid Javid, saw the beginning of the end for Boris Johnson’s government. 

It took 52 resignations for Boris Johnson to officially throw in the towel and announce his own resignation – one that would controversially keep him in a PM caretaker role until September. 

By the end of this week, the UK will have just two candidates left. They will spend their summer at hustings up and down the country trying to win the support of the Tory Party members. 

A new Tory leader – and therefore prime minister will be announced by 5 September. 

• The 4 key events that saw Boris Johnson’s government fall 

Politics isn’t for the faint-hearted and the last few weeks have surely proved that. There have been countless twists and turns in the battle for leadership, from volatile TV debates to media smear campaigns and Liz Truss struggling to exit a building. The last few weeks have had it all. 

And one thing is clear: this race is as ugly and vicious as politics could ever be. It has, without doubt, damaged the reputation of the Conservative party, but with a general election two years away, the British public must prepare to endure this next leader. 

• Conservative leadership race: The TV debates could help decide next PM