Priti Patel

MPs have finished voting in the first round of the leadership contest - with the result due at 5pm - after YouGov research suggested Ms Mordaunt is the overwhelming favourite of activists. The trade minister - who has appeared a relative outsider - would defeat any competitor in a run off, according to the survey. The margin against Mr Sunak was projected to be 67 per cent to 28 per cent, while the former Chancellor could lose 59 per cent to 25 per cent against Ms Truss. Although the race is still at a relatively early stage, the dramatic results could blow it wide open and cause MPs to rethink their approach. Ms Mordaunt officially launched her leadership bid today vowing to restore the Tories' 'sense of self' - but also bizarrely batted away a row over her 'woke' gender stance by stating she does not have a penis. Allies of Ms Truss have been urging other candidates whose campaigns have run out of 'energy' to pull out and back her as a unity candidate for the right. Of the eight candidates left only Mr Sunak and Ms Mordaunt have enough declared backers to survive today's ballot, after party chiefs set a minimum of 30 to progress. Ms Truss is expected to have enough support, but MPs suspect several will fall by the wayside....read