Rishi Sunak is being forced to remain in charge of the Tory Party for months - despite wanting to move on, it is claimed. Details of how the battle for his successor will be fought were finally announced after two weeks of wrangling. A winning candidate won't be announced until November 2, giving the party plenty of time to tear itself apart.
Senior figures had called on the Conservatives to take their time selecting a new boss and reflect on why they lost. But it means Rishi Sunak will be in charge for more than three months, despite announcing on July 5 he'd be stepping down. The leadership race has already turned ugly, with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman launching an astonishing tirade against "centrist cranks" at the weekend.
Mr Sunak will be forced to oversee a difficult party conference, and will also be in charge of the opposition when Labour sets out its first budget. Mr Sunak was keen to stand down earlier, the BBC reports , so that the party could move on. But he's said it is in "the national interest" for him to stay in post to allow "a smooth and orderly transition to a new leader of the opposition".
He said: “This will allow our party to fulfil its role as the official opposition professionally and effectively. I believe this is what is best for the Conservative Party and, most importantly, our country." Bob Blackman, who chairs the influential 1922 Committee - which will oversee the leadership contest - said he's "determined that our party will have a .