Tory leadership contest: Boris Johnson agrees to TV debate under intense pressure from rivals, as Matt Hancock bows out of race
Health secretary’s move leaves just six candidates as Channel 4 head-to-head poised to happen without frontrunner
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Your support makes all the difference.Matt Hancock has dropped out of the Tory leadership race amid rumours the remaining contenders will unite to stop Boris Johnson becoming prime minister.
The health secretary announced his decision to withdraw hours after issuing a joint statement with Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid, and Rory Stewart to compel the frontrunner in taking part in a televised debate before the next vote.
Mr Johnson bowed to pressure to take part in the BBC debate on Tuesday but he signalled he would refuse to take part in the first clash, hosted by Channel 4 on Sunday.
See below for what was our live coverage.
With the top three contenders in the Tory leadership race saying they would consider leaving the EU without a deal, the cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill said on Thursday that the government was "in pretty good shape" to cope with a no-deal Brexit. He also warned the future PM not to drag the Queen into politics by attempting to suspend parliament.
It came as the European Commission has produced analysis suggesting that the UK would be hit up to 10 times harder than the continent.
According to the IMF, the long-term effect on the EU's GDP would be less than 1 per cent, compared to between 3 and 8 per cent for the UK (including the British government's own estimate of 7.7 per cent).
Four council election results from last night suggest a continued resurgence by the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems won two seats from the Conservatives in Broxtowe's Stapleford South East ward. The vote was delayed from May following the death of a candidate.
Meanwhile, Conservatives gained a seat from independents in Chittlehampton, North Devon, and North Kesteven, Lincolnshire.
Boris Johnson has apparently suggested he will drop his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow airport if he becomes prime minister.
Four years ago he vowed to his constituents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to "lie down in front of the bulldozers" to stop the development.
Then he managed to dodge the crucial vote by MPs in June last year by jetting off to Afghanistan on a diplomatic trip as foreign secretary, two weeks before resigning over Theresa May's Brexit deal.
Now he has told the 1922 Committee he would not cancel the scheme if he becomes PM, according to The Times.
Rumours spreading that Matt Hancock is to make a statement dropping out of the Tory leadership race at 11am.
Not clear if the reference to "come and get me" refers to some kind of game of political hide and seek or an attempt to try and secure a top job in the future PM's cabinet.
Matt Hancock is currently trailing last in the leadership contest, with odds of 140/1 to become the next prime minister.
By contrast Boris Johnson is 1/5 on, Jeremy Hunt is 7/1, Michael Gove and Rory Stewart are both at 16/1 and Sajid Javid and Dominic Raab are both at 48/1.
It's clear the bookmakers see Rory Stewart as a potential challenger to Boris Johnson, even though he came last in the first ballot.
Shortly after the first ballot, Mr Hancock tweeted that he won more votes (20) than he "could have hoped for".
In what may now be seen as a kiss of death, comedian Jim Davidson replied: "Well done Matt".
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Here's our story on Matt Hancock's decision to pull out of the leadership contest.
Matt Hancock announces his decision in a video statement.
I'm hugely grateful for the warm and enthusiastic support I've received throughout this campaign, and am proud of the way we managed to set the agenda by promoting new ideas to make people's lives better.
I ran as the candidate of the future, but the party is understandably looking for a candidate for the unique circumstances we face right now.
I have therefore decided to withdraw from this contest, and I will look for the best way to advance the values we fought for, of free enterprise, and an open, aspirational, free society, underpinned by an optimistic belief in the value of each individual person.
I will talk to all the other candidates about how these values can be best taken forward.
The health secretary was asked by Sky News if some of the other candidates should pull out of the race. He replied: "I'm not going to put pressure on them i'm going to think about what is the best way to advance the values i care about."
He also suggested that he was a candidate for the future rather than a candidate to sort out Brexit.
"Making the argument about being the candidate for the future is not where the party is at the moment," he said.
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