Rishi Sunak latest: Ex-chancellor launches Tory leadership bid after Boris Johnson resigns

Downing Street has announced the appointments of several government whips, as well as a further junior ministerial role.

Today, it has made almost 30 appointments to government after about 50 ministers and their aides resigned over Boris Johnson’s leadership.

Damian Collins has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Michael Tomlinson is now Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government whip).

Craig Whittaker and James Duddridge have both been made Government whips (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury).

Stuart Anderson, Joy Morrissey, Sir David Evennett, Adam Holloway, Suzanne Webb and David Morris have been appointed assistant government whips.

Former Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden is among the six MPs who have tweeted their support of Rishi Sunak’s leadership bid.

In a statement shared on social media, he said: “Rishi is the best person to lead our country and unquestionably the best person to beat Labour. That’s why I’m backing him to be our next Prime Minister.”

Former chancellor Mr Sunak has also received the endorsement of a number of his Tory colleagues on social media.

Dr Liam Fox, Mark Harper, Paul Maynard, Mel Stride, and Jacob Young are among the Conservative MPs that have tweeted their support for Mr Sunak using the hashtag #ready4rishi

It’s understood that he also has the support of at least eight other MPs – taking his current number of backers to at least 14.

Downing Street has announced another series of new ministerial appointments today.

Wellingborough MP Peter Bone has been made the new deputy leader of the House of Commons.

Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for International Trade.

Loughborough MP Jane Hunt is now parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Transport.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care.

Morley and Outwood MP Andrea Jenkyns is now parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state jointly at the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Derby North MP Amanda Solloway is now parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Home Office, and parliamentary under-secretary of state (minister for equalities) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler is now parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Hertford and Stortford MP Julie Marson has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions, and an assistant Government whip.

Labour will not make a deal with the SNP before or after the next general election, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Labour leader, speaking after a Durham Police investigation found that he did not break Covid regulations during a visit to the city while campaigning last year, made a fresh pitch to voters, stressing his own integrity and vision for the country.

As part of that pitch, Sir Keir told reporters that he could rule out a coalition with a party that wanted to put a border between England and Scotland.

He also played down the prospect of a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Sir Keir, still fresh from a by-election victory in Wakefield last month and speaking the day after Boris Johnson resigned as Conservative leader, said that Labour is ready to win a general election.

The Labour leader and his deputy Angela Rayner had promised to resign if they received fines in relation to the gathering in the offices of a local Labour MP in April 2021.

But after reopening an inquiry into the event, where Sir Keir was pictured drinking from a bottle of beer, Durham Police found there was no case to answer regarding any of the participants.

Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor who will be running in the Tory leadership contest, had his campaign website set up six months before Boris Johnson quit as PM this week.

Records show that his website – readyforrishi.com – was registered on 23 December 2021, which coincides with when the Partygate scandal started to brew.

The website automatically redirects to the current website – ready4rishi.com

Rishi Sunak is the most popular choice among Conservative Party members to be Boris Johnson’s replacement, according to a new poll.

Channel 4’s poll conducted by Opinium puts the former chancellor on 25 per cent, just ahead of foreign secretary Liz Truss on 21 per cent.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace came in at 12 per cent, and current chancellor Nadhim Zahawi came in with only 6 per cent.

Former levelling-up secretary Michael Gove and home secretary Priti Patel both polled at 8 per cent.

James Crouch, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Opinium, said: “At this early stage it’s all too common for a front runner to slip behind, but the closeness of these numbers show that no candidate has an easy ride into Number 10.”

The sample size was 493 Conservative Party members with polling taking place on 6-8 July. Due to the timing of the survey, Tom Tugendhat was not included as an option for the members.

Parts of the government’s legislative agenda initiated under Boris Johnson’s leadership may not see completion by the time he leaves Downing Street by the autumn.

The proposed legislation includes two controversial Bills focused on Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would give ministers sweeping powers and allow the UK to abandon Brexit arrangements unilaterally, is currently at the committee stage in the House of Commons.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is due a second reading in the House of Lords. It would allow amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles for those who cooperate with a new information body.

The highly-controversial Bill of Rights Bill would replace the Human Rights Act, meaning the Supreme Court would be independent from the Strasbourg court. In this case, the UK would have to follow case law from the European Court of Human Rights. A date for the Bill’s second reading has yet to be announced.

The Public Order Bill is another piece of legislation which has drawn heavy criticism as an attempt to limit long-established human rights by bolstering police powers to break up disruptive protests. It is currently at the report stage in the Commons and is set to face challenges in the Lords.

The Online Safety Bill – which seeks to take action against harmful internet content – is currently at the Commons committee stage and its journey through Parliament is set to outlast Mr Johnson’s tenure.

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill – which seeks to reform planning rules – is currently at the committee stage in the Commons, with the Lords yet to have their say.

Tory MP John Baron has said he is considering standing in the party’s leadership contest triggered by Boris Johnson’s resignation.

The backbench Basildon and Billericay MP told the BBC: “I am going to take soundings over the weekend so I’m keeping my powder dry.

“I will be talking to a few people over the weekend and we will see what happens. I am absolutely considering throwing my hat in the ring to be the next prime minister.”

Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch is also reportedly considering putting herself forward as a candidate.

Downing Street has announced seven new appointments to government, after about 50 ministers and aides had resigned over Boris Johnson’s leadership.

North East Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller has been made economic secretary to the Treasury.

Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew has been appointed minister of state at the Ministry of Justice.

Havant MP Alan Mak is now exchequer secretary to the Treasury.

Derbyshire Dales MP Sarah Dines has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state jointly at the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti is now parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education.