Tory infighting as final 5 prepare for live debate

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July 15, 2022 View in browser Good morning, Welcome to The Independent's Inside Politics newsletter. Matt Mathers is away, so here's the latest news in politics, compiled by Becky Barnes.   What a week it has been as the Tory leadership contenders have been whittled down - with five would-be PMs in the running for the top job and set to go head-to-head in a Channel 4 debate this evening. Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt have maintained their places at the front of the race as Suella Braverman was eliminated. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss came in third but will hope to pick up votes from Ms Braverman's supporters in the next round. Ms Braverman has backed Ms Truss, tweeting: "I'm backing @trussliz to lead the Conservative Party and our country. She'll cut taxes, deliver Brexit promises and protect free speech."    However, Ms Truss has been accused of "black-ops" in her desperate fight to stay in the Tory leadership race, as the party's right-wing boosted her chances of being the next prime minister. Two leading supporters of the foreign secretary branded key rival Ms Mordaunt unfit to be prime minister as the contest turned nasty and undermined her claim to be fighting a clean campaign. The Tory infighting comes as one senior Truss supporter revealed frustration with MPs who have failed to vote for her as promised, telling The Independent: "This is the most duplicitous lying electorate you have ever come across."   Meanwhile, Former Brexit minister Lord Frost has thrown his support behind Ms Truss as he urged Kemi Badenoch to pull out of the Tory leadership contest so there can be "unity among free marketeers".   The next round of voting is due on Monday, with subsequent rounds if required until two candidates are left, who will then battle it out over the summer to win the support of Conservative members. Their choice of the next prime minister will be announced on September 5. Inside the bubble No voting in the Tory leadership contest today. Results of an ONS survey on the Ukraine Humanitarian Scheme will be released at 9.30am. Channel 4 will host a live Tory leadership debate at 7pm. Daily Briefing Lucky Penny Penny Mordaunt has continued her remarkable surge in the race to be next Tory leader and prime minister, gaining 83 votes in the second ballot.   As expected, Rishi Sunak remains on top with 101 backers – as Suella Braverman was eliminated from the contest – but Ms Mordaunt continues to breathe down the former chancellor's neck.   The foreign secretary Liz Truss gathered just 64 votes.   Kemi Badenoch remains a rival to be the candidate for the right of the party, with 49 votes – while the centrist Tom Tugendhat slipped back, from 37 to just 32 votes.   Mr Tugendhat will now come under pressure to pull out of the contest, but has suggested he will fight on in the hope of impressing in the weekend live TV debates. On brand? Five Conservative Party leadership hopefuls are jostling to make into the final two in the race to be the next prime minister, having made their appeal to MPs for support.   Rishi Sunak launched his campaign with a video about his upbringing, Penny Mordaunt raised eyebrows with some bombastic flag-waving, and Liz Truss played it safe by setting out her stall as the "trust" candidate.   Mark Borkowski, one of Britain's top PR experts, told my colleague Adam Forrest some of the remaining contenders had launched impressively "slick" campaigns – but still had a long way to go in connecting with the country the way Boris Johnson once did.   The communications professional ranked the candidates' branding efforts, giving The Independent his verdict on how their presentational style might fare with party members and the wider public.   Read the analysis here Today's cartoon See all of The Independent's daily cartoons here On the record "If the Government is serious about levelling up, they need to protect Channel 4, not sell it off." Matthew Topham, We Own It lead campaigner as Independent production companies urge Conservative Party leadership candidates to commit to halting the sale of Channel 4. From the Twitterati "In the real world, away from the fantasy economics & politics of the Tory leadership contest, ambulances are routinely waiting 10 hours in Truro, 11 hours in Plymouth to discharge patients, leading to the worst ever emergency response times for patients." Labour MP Ben Bradshaw tweets about the NHS crisis and pressure on ambulance services.   An Independent panel discussed the NHS crisis earlier this week. You can watch back the full event here. Also, free tickets are available for our next event Brexit: Will a new PM be able to solve the NI issue? Essential reading Sean O'Grady, The Independent: Even the no-hopers are flinging custard pies in this messy Tory leadership race Tom Peck, The Independent: Truss can deliver – she just decided not to over the past eight years in cabinet Anna Isaac, The Independent: A party for Penny as Tory leadership contest heats up Nesrine Malik, The Guardian: There are Tories of diverse origins and skin tones. What they need now is real difference Chris Deerin, The New Statesman: If Scottish independence is such a good idea, why are there no trains? OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email.   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Inside Politics email. 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