Brexit news: Final Tory leadership candidates confirmed, as Boris Johnson condemned over tax cuts for the wealthy
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Ten Conservative MPs have formally entered the race to succeed Theresa May, as several outsiders scored enough support to get onto the ballot paper.
Sam Gyimah, who was the only second referendum candidate, withdrew from the race moments before senior Tories announced the shortlist, which included big-hitters such as Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab.
Outsiders Rory Stewart, Andrea Leadsom, Esther McVey and Mark Harper also made it to the starting line, despite speculation that some would struggle to secure the necessary support.
It comes as Mr Johnson, the frontrunner in the race, faced an angry backlash over his plan to raise the 40p income tax threshold at a cost of nearly £10bn – handing thousands of pounds a year back to people on salaries of between £50,000 and £80,000.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
The Liberal Democrats have also criticised Boris Johnson's tax cut plans.
Jo Swinson's fellow Lib Dem leadership candidate Ed Davey tweeted: ""The biggest gainers from Boris' unfair tax cuts for the rich? Wealthy pensioners. Is this a tax cut targeted on the majority of Conservative Party members?"
Andrea Leadsom has panned Boris Johnson's tax cuts plan by saying that "in reality, in this parliament, it will be impossible to actually get whole-scale tax changes through".
Matt Hancock will be the first leadership candidate to hold a launch event today, at 10am.
Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab have, unfortunately, both chosen to speak at 11am.
Esther McVey is due to launch her bid at 12pm, while Michael Gove will wait until 2.50pm.
Amber Rudd has backed Jeremy Hunt to be the next prime minister in a major blow to rival contender Michael Gove, writes Peter Stubley.
The work and pensions secretary described her cabinet colleague as ”a winner with a track record of success in business and in government”.
Writing in The Times, Ms Rudd, who resigned as home secretary over the Windrush immigration scandal but is now an influential voice within the One Nation group of Tories, said: “These are serious times and we need a respected statesman who Brussels will listen to, not more bluster.”
Andrea Leadsom has joined criticism of Boris Johnson's tax plans, telling the BBC they would never get through parliament.
She says:
"I think, in reality, in this Parliament, it will be impossible, to actually get whole-scale tax changes through."
The first of the four Tory campaign launches today is Matt Hancock's, at 10am. It hasn't started yet, but the famously tech-loving health secretary has already impressed journalists at the event with waffles, party bags and free portable phone chargers...
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is now speaking at the launch of his leadership campaign.
He begins by talking up the UK, saying: "Britain isn't broken - it's politics that is in a rut."
He says the country "needs a fresh start" and that's why he is standing for leader.
Sounding a bit like a motivational speaker or spiritual guru, he adds:
"Every single person, every person in this room, each and every one of you, everyone has something to give.
And it’s the role of government to unlock that potential and allow people to fly as high as their aspirations can take them.
Now not everyone believes this.
But I know, I know, that if you look inside the heart of every person there is something of value, and it’s our job to help them release it.
And that’s what politics should be: at the service of people."
Matt Hancock says his plan for Brexit "is the only credible plan that can deliver Brexit by the 31 October with the support both of the European Union and of the House of Commons - that is just the reality of the situation".
He says Theresa May's plan has failed but that no deal would not get through the Commons.
Attacking Dominic Raab's suggestion that parliament could be suspended if it tries to block a no-deal Brexit, Mr Hancock says this "goes against everything that those men who waded onto those beaches [on D-Day] fought and died for".
NEW: The UK economy has shrunk by four times more than expected
Here are some of the best quotes from Matt Hancock's slightly bizarre speech at his campaign launch this morning...
"I believe in people. I love people."
"My mantra is: move fast and make things happen."
"I know that if you look inside the heart of every person, there is something of value, and it’s our job to help them release it.
"It’s not so much the back story that’s important - it’s the front story"
"I offer an emotionally charged platform."
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