From magic circle to one member one vote: a short history of Tory leadership contests

The present election will turn on whether MPs and activists put national popularity before ideological soundness.

Rachel Wolf: Would-be Prime Ministers should be wary of the long-term cost of short-term policy pledges

Campaigning through policy might be effective, but each promise made by a leadership candidate with little time for thought or research is a hostage to fortune.

Our survey. Next Tory Leader. So much excitement, so little change. Johnson maintains his lead.

He, Raab and Gove are in the same order as last month – first, second and third. No other candidate reaches double figures.

James Frayne: The five essential tests to weigh up Conservative leadership candidates

Plus a sixth, less formal, question: are they ridiculous?

Next Tory Leader: Present runners and riders

There are no fewer than 11 candidates declared as we write, and at least eight others who might join the fray.

Tributes to the Prime Minister. Senior Conservatives, leadership candidates.

From: Hunt, Javid, Gove, Hancock, Stewart, Truss, Rudd, Johnson, Leadsom, Raab, Harper and Baker.

Iain Dale: The stars are aligning for a Johnson premiership

Plus: Leadsom is a mensch. The Euro-elections may be a Conservative wipeout. And: my interview with Blair.

Mel Stride is appointed Leader of the House of Commons

The former Treasury Minister is regarded as a “safe pair of hands”. However, he may not stay in post for long.

Leadsom refused to support an EU second referendum plan that she had not approved

It could just be that the next Minister to depart will be none other than the Prime Minister herself.

“There has been a complete breakdown of collective responsibility.” The Commons leader’s resignation letter. Full text.

Leadsom quits – and slams May’s deal as now proposed; the second referendum plan and the by-passing of Cabinet.

May hangs on for now, but faces the music on Friday – and Leadsom walks

It is not the resignation which Tory backbenchers were keenest to see, but it makes the end of May’s prime ministership even more certain.

The Johnson hype is here. Don’t fall for it.

In a field this crowded and with an electorate so, er, sophisticated, make no assumptions about which names will be forwarded to Party members.

Once again, our survey is in line with an opinion poll

YouGov has Johnson top as Next Tory Leader. So do we. It has him winning run-offs. So do we. It finds 79 per of activists want May out. Our figure was 82 per cent…

Nigel Evans: If the Prime Minister can’t deliver a clean Brexit, she must make way for a successor who will

She should now put her deal to the Commons without the backstop – announce a firm date for her departure.

There are too many Conservative leadership candidates

The contest may or may not produce a Snow White.  But statistically, there are bound to be more than seven dwarves.