Andrew Gimson’s leadership sketch: Harper warns that making and breaking another promise will put rocket boosters under Farage

Leadsom threw such caution to the winds and promised Britain will leave the EU on 31st October.

LISTEN: Iain Dale’s interview with Stewart

Our columnist is interviewing each of the Conservative leadership candidates on his LBC show – here’s the second.

WATCH: “My plan is realistic and it is credible. I am prepared to leave without a deal.” – Harper

“Everyone else in this race has sat around the Cabinet table and participated in the decisions that have led to us not leaving the European Union.”

WATCH: “Our country needs a leader who will be decisive, who will get things done” – Leadsom

“Over the last three years, politics has failed dismally…Leaving the EU on the 31st of October is for me a hard red line.”

WATCH: “I know we can win the future” – Hancock

“For the last few years, we’ve been distracted and divided. We need a fresh start.”

James Frayne: What polling about Johnson tells us

MPs and activists should be asking themselves a big question: what is it that made him popular in the first place?

WATCH: Javid’s new video. “I know better days lie ahead.”

“I got into politics because I love my country, and I want to give people more opportunities than I had.”

Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson: Why Johnson is the best choice for the Party. For our town, Swindon. And for the country.

We are MPs who supported Remain and Leave respectively, and are looking for a Prime Minister who will be realistic and honest with the EU.

Tax cut promises, spending hike pledges – and an air of unreality

We apologise for not being swept away by the mania for new announcements that infests this leadership contest.

Stephen Booth: Meanwhile, in Brussels, there are rumours of movement from the EU on the backstop

But the Commons has dug in against the Withdrawal Agreement. These immovable obstacles seemingly point in only one direction: a general election.

Today’s Tory leadership election hustings schedule

We also have the result from yesterday evening’s ’92 Group hustings – in which Johnson scooped almost half the vote.

The ten candidates who will contest the Conservative Party’s leadership election

So no more dropouts after Sam Gyimah’s departure earlier this afternoon. The first ballot will be held on Thursday.

Andrew Gimson’s leadership sketch: amid the encircling gloom, Gove fights on, he fights to win

The Environment Secretary reminded everyone that he is the most aggressive debater in the race.

Gyimah withdraws: “Having entered the race at such a late stage, there has not been enough time to build sufficient support”

The second referendum supporter appears to be the latest person culled by the 1922 Committee’s higher nomination threshold.

WATCH: Gove challenges Johnson – “Whatever you do, don’t pull out. I know you have before.”

“I know that you may not believe in your heart that you can do it. But the Conservative Party membership deserve a choice, so let’s have a proper race.”