Conservative Party members across the country are making their decision about who they wish to back to replace Theresa May as the next party leader – and Prime Minister. The Tory leadership race originally had eleven candidates bidding for the position and has now been whittled down to just two. Conservative Party members are due to receive their postal ballots between July 6-8, with the final deadline falling the week ending Sunday, July 21. But for those party members who need more information before deciding who to vote for: when is the ITV leaders debate?
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt addressed the North East this morning and are due to visit Scotland this evening as they campaign for the last day before ballot papers land on the doorsteps of 160,000 Conservative Party members.
Mr Johson topped each of the Conservative MPs leadership ballots, winning by 160 votes to Jeremy Hunt’s 77 and Michael Gove’s 75.
The final ballot saw Mr Gove eliminated from the race leaving just Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt as contenders.
The final five candidates appeared on the BBC on June 18 and four out of the five candidates appeared on the Channel 4 debate on Sunday, June 16, with an empty podium standing in place for Boris Johnson who didn’t make an appearance.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have now confirmed they will face off on the BBC and ITV channels.
The former and current Foreign Secretaries will feature on a televised debate with Andrew Marr show on July 12.
Jeremy Hunt has lashed out at the BBC after the broadcaster reportedly proposed a head-to-head Tory leadership debate after most Conservative members have already voted on July 16.
This date is less than a week before the new leader would be announced and is statistically when 90 percent of party members have already cast their votes.
Mr Hunt tweeted: “Absolute joke to give the appearance of a debate whilst knowing it can have ZERO influence on campaign. Also very disrespectful to members and the public.”
But both candidates will appear on a live ITV debate next Tuesday with Julie Etchingham on Tuesday at 8pm.
The results of the final vote will be announced on July 22, with the candidate who wins more than 50 percent of the vote being declared Leader of the Party.
Theresa May’s resignation means that whoever wins the Tory leadership battle will automatically be named the next prime minister and leader of the country as well.
