The Tory leadership contest rules are to change in order to whittle down the number of candidates, the party board confirmed this evening. After it became clear that the contest was going to be rather chaotic with more than a dozen candidates, the party agreed to raise the threshold for nominations to make it harder for contenders to get onto the ballot paper.
Each would-be leader must have eight nominations to get onto the ballot, and then win the support of at least 17 MPs in the first round. Then at the second ballot, any candidate receiving 32 votes or fewer will be eliminated, with rounds continuing until only two remain. The first round will take place on 13 June, and further ballots are scheduled for 18 June, 19 June and 20 June. CCHQ will then take over for the membership stage of the contest, with the first membership hustings on 22 June and the contest closing in the week beginning 22 July.
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