The battle to become the next leader of the Conservative Party is under way and the candidates and their supporters are jostling hard for position. Here’s who is running, why they are running and who’s backing them. 

Liz Truss

Why she is running: Viewed as the right’s main challenger to Rishi Sunak, she is seeking to be a Thatcherite who promises tax cuts, foreign policy experience and a track-record of delivery.

She is expected to hoover up support on the centre right, but her Remain credentials could put off some Brexiteers.

MP backers: Alec Shelbrooke, Dehenna Davison, Jackie Doyle-Price, Julian Knight, Rob Butler, Chloe Smith, Dean Russell, Marcus Fysh, Darren Henry, Ranil Jayawardena,, Simon Clarke, Thérèse Coffey

Odds: 9/2

Tom Tugendhat

Why he is running: The chairman of the foreign affairs committee is casting himself as a new face, with military leadership, to unite the party and win the support of the One Nation group of Tories, which is led by his first backer, Damian Green.

MP backers: Damian Green, Aaron Bell, John Stevenson, Robert Largan, Stephen Hammond, Sir Robert Syms, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Mark Logan, Chris Green, Nickie Aitkin, Damien Moore, Karen Bradley, Anne Marie Morris  

Odds: 12/1

Rishi Sunak

Why he is running: The former chancellor is pitching himself to the party and members as the serious voice on the economy, who can guide the country through a potential recession by resisting calls for tax cuts. 

MP backers: Mark Harper, Jacob Young, Angela Richardson, John Glen, Laura Trott, Mark Spencer, Claire Coutinho, Kevin Hollinrake, Paul Maynard, Julie Marson, Robert Jenrick, Bob Neil, Liam Fox, Oliver Dowden, Mel Stride, Bim Afolami, Simon Jupp, Simon Hoare, Louie French, Andrew Murrison, Fay Jones, Peter Gibson, Helen Whately, Maria Caulfield, Craig Williams, Sir Robert Goodwill, James Cartlidge, Simon Hart, Gareth Davies, Siobhan Baillie, Rebecca Pow, Anthony Brown, Ruth Edwards

Odds: 15/8

Penny Mordaunt

Why she is running: Launching her campaign, the trade minister released a video where she did not feature, in a bid to put herself forward as a unity candidate who puts the drama of personality-politics aside and focus on patriotic government.

MP backers: John Lamont, Nicola Richards, Michael Fabricant, Andrea Leadsom, Kieran Mullan, Sir Charles Walker, Alicia Kearns, Craig Tracey, Harriet Baldwin, Damian Collins, James Gray, Elliot Colburn, Caroline Ansell, Robbie Moore, George Freeman, Derek Thomas, Maria Miller, Theo Clarke

Odds: 7/2

Sajid Javid

Why he is running: The former chancellor and former health secretary is drawing on his extensive experience in several cabinet and ministerial positions to run as a low-tax, free market Tory seeking to appeal to the middle of the party, with clear dividing lines between Rishi Sunak on one side and Suella Braverman on the other.

MP backers: Rachel Maclean, Chris Philp, Saqib Bhatti, Robin Walker, Ed Argar, Mike Wood, Steve Double, Robert Halfon, Mary Robinson 

Odds: 20/1

Jeremy Hunt

Why he is running: The former foreign secretary is running as an anti-Boris candidate, who can say that he is untainted by not serving in Mr Johnson’s government. He will cut businesses taxes but will not do so with personal tax, seeking to appeal to his party’s liberal wing.

MP backers: Philip Dunne, Steve Brine, Dan Poulter, Andrew Mitchell. Anthony Magnall, Crispin Blunt, Oliver Heald, Philip Davies, David Morris, Esther McVey, Peter Bottomleym, Daniel Kawczynski

Odds: 14/1

Nadhim Zahawi

Why he is running: The Chancellor is a businessman who oversaw the vaccine campaign and has an inspiring back story. 

MP backers: Jonathan Gullis, Sara Britcliffe, David Johnston, Amanda Milling, Brandon Lewis, Michelle Donelan, Mark Fletcher, Mark Jenkinson, Jesse Norman, Jack Brereton, Tobias Ellwood 

Odds: 25/1

Grant Shapps

Why he is running: Seen as an underdog when announced, the Transport Secretary delivered a strong media round on Sunday where he managed to not throw his old boss under the bus while offering a plan of tax cuts funded through reducing government spending. Though he’s currently low on supporters, he claims he has enough to make a run for the leadership, and already has the support of one fellow cabinet minister.

MP backers: Robert Courts, George Eustice, Trudy Harrison, Graham Stuart, Dr. James Davies, Paul Bristow,  Mark Pritchard 

Odds: 100/1

Suella Braverman

Why she is running: The Attorney General is the main candidate of the Brexiteer right of the party. She was the first to declare, with strong anti-woke, low-tax, anti-EU policies and has been backed by Steve Baker, who put off his own tilt at the job to back her campaign. She will have to contend with more experienced contenders in the field.

MP backers: Sir Desmond Swayne, Jason McCartney, Robin Millar, Henry Smith, Steve Baker, Julian Lewis, Sir John Hayes, Richard Drax, Philip Hollobone

Odds: 25/1 

Kemi Badenoch

Why she is running: The former equalities minister is campaigning on an anti-woke and culture wars platform based on a desire to speak honestly to the public. She is billing herself as a next generation Tory and has won the support of some of the newest intake of MPs, but her lack of any cabinet experience may hinder her success.

MP backers: Michael Gove Lee Rowley, Lee Anderson, Eddie Hughes, Julia Lopez, Tom Hunt, Ben Bradley, Justin Tomlinson, Gareth Bacon, Dr Caroline Johnson, Andrew Lewer, Neil O’Brien 

Odds: 8/1