Nominations Open In Tory Leadership Race

Nominations for the Tory leadership open later - formally firing the starting gun on the race to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister.

Senior Conservatives have confirmed they will be backing the favourite and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson, while Stephen Crabb has made his pitch for the job, running on a "blue collar ticket" with Business Secretary Sajid Javid.

Meanwhile, a survey for the ConservativeHome website has put Home Secretary Theresa May - who is expected to enter the race before Thursday's noon deadline - narrowly ahead of Mr Johnson among party members.

Cabinet ministers Liz Truss and John Whittingdale, from either side of the European Union referendum divide, have pledged support to Mr Johnson.

Environment Secretary Ms Truss told Sky News: "He has the ability to lead our country in a great way.

"There is a period of instability... we need stability, we need strong leadership.

"Boris has shown with his job in London, his ability to lead the Leave campaign, that he has the ability to unite the country but also to reach out to the broader world, because if we are changing our relationship with the EU which we are, it will be quite dramatic."

The Leave campaign frontman has also received the backing of Brexit-supporting justice minister Dominic Raab and farming minister George Eustice, with dozens more Tory MPs expected to follow suit, The Sun reported.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who told Sky News she is "actively considering standing", said the Tories had to make the "positive case" for immigration rather than be "pushed around" by UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

She said the Conservatives should look to implement Mr Cameron's manifesto, "appealing to the centre ground that Jeremy Corbyn's Labour has vacated".

Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Crabb has lined up Attorney General Jeremy Wright to act as the manager for his campaign.

Mr Crabb comes from the sort of ordinary background that appeals to many voters - and Business Secretary Mr Javid is the son of a Pakistani bus driver who became an investment banker.

Both men backed the Remain side although Mr Javid faced claims he was privately in favour of leaving the EU.

Setting out his stall in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Crabb pledged to unite the Conservatives on "a path of optimism and pragmatism".

He said he would take Britain out of the EU - with freedom of movement a "red line" as he seeks to craft a new immigration policy.

ConservativeHome said its survey of 1,315 members put Mrs May on 29% and Mr Johnson on 28%, with Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox - neither of whom has declared their intentions - both on 13%.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is also tipped to stand, while Chancellor George Osborne has ruled himself out of the race.

The new Tory leader - who will move straight into Number 10 - is expected to be in place by 9 September.