Who are Sussex Tory MPs backing to replace Liz Truss as PM?

MPs from across the country have started to throw their support behind three possible leadership candidates after the Prime Minister announced her resignation yesterday afternoon.

Both Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, and Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor, have said they will back Rishi Sunak in the leadership contest.

Sunak, who served as Chancellor under Boris Johnson, previously ran to become Prime Minister over the summer against Liz Truss, being narrowly defeated in the race to replace Johnson.

He is the bookies' favourite to win the Conservative leadership election.

Huw Merriman and Nick Gibb are backing Rishi Sunak to become the next Prime Minister (Image: PA)

Announcing his endorsement for Rishi Sunak, Mr Merriman said: “The economy needs a solid, experienced operator; Rishi is the leader to raise this country back to where it belongs.”

Nick Gibb echoed this view and said: “Rishi’s competence, compassion, economic foresight and his leadership skills means he is the candidate to unite our party.

“Rishi’s charisma and wider appeal in the country means he is best placed to rebuild support for our party.”

Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell has opted to back Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, saying she has the “qualities and qualifications” to lead the Conservative Party and country.

Caroline Ansell has thrown her support behind Penny Mordaunt to be the next Prime Minister (Image: PA)

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also seen many of his supporters in Parliament call for his return to Number 10, with Sky News reporting that Lewes MP Maria Caulfield has joined the campaign to “bring back Boris”.

Crawley MP Henry Smith, who initially backed Suella Braverman in the last leadership competition, is also said to have supported the campaign to have Johnson return as Prime Minister, according to right-wing political website Guido Fawkes.

The come-back kid? Boris Johnson has received support from Henry Smith and Maria Caulfield (Image: PA)

Candidates who wish to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister must attract the support of 100 Conservative MPs by Monday.

If more than two candidates reach that threshold, Tory MPs will vote and the person with the fewest votes will be eliminated.

MPs in the Conservative Party will vote to indicate a preferred candidate when two final candidates remain, with party members then voting online to choose who should be the next Prime Minister.

A new leader of the Tories and of the country will be in place by next Friday.