The stakes are high as the Conservative Party approaches its biggest single moment yet since its calamitous election defeat in July, says Chris Mason

Mel Stride was the fourth Tory to put his name in the ring and said there was a ‘huge job to do’ for the party. The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary was always an outsider bet for the leadership, but lasted until the second round of voting being being booted out of the race.

One of the remaining four Tory leadership hopefuls will be knocked out of the race to replace Rishi Sunak on Tuesday as Conservative MPs vote to narrow the field to three. The parliamentary party will hold hustings in the morning, followed by a vote in the afternoon. Another vote will take place on Wednesday.