North East MPs have started to reveal who they want to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister, after Liz Truss stepped announced her resignation on Thursday (October 21).

The beleaguered PM quit after just 44 days in office, to become the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.

Truss’s resignation has triggered a sped-up Tory leadership contest, with a new Prime Minister set to take up office next week – possibly as soon as Monday (October 24).

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MPs hoping to throw their hat in the ring have until Monday afternoon to whip up the support of 100 of their colleagues, in order to secure their place on the ballot.

No one has officially thrown their hat into the ring yet, but Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt and former PM Boris Johnson are all rumoured to be considering a bid.

The Northern Echo asked all of the region’s Conservative MPs who they will be backing in the leadership contest.

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Here’s the full list of who the region’s Tory MPs are backing to be the next leader (as of 8pm on Friday October 21):

Anne-Marie Trevelyan– Berwick upon Tweed

Trevelyan, who is currently the Transport Secretary, announced on Friday evening that she would be backing Boris Johnson in the leadership election.

During the summer’s leadership campaign she had initially backed Tom Tugendhat before joining Liz Truss’s senior team.

Ian Levy – Blyth Valley

The Northern Echo: Ian Levy, Blyth Valley MPIan Levy, Blyth Valley MP

Ian Levy became the first Conservative MP in the Red Wall when he was elected in 2019. The MP, who has been a staunch supporter of Boris Johnson, has come out backing his former boss to return to Number 10.

He says he is backing Boris Johnson to return as Conservative Party leader after being “inundated” with support for the former Prime Minister. Mr Levy made the comments at an event in Blyth on Friday (October 21) morning.

He initially supported Priti Patel during the leadership contest over the summer.

Guy Opperman – Hexham

Hexham MP Guy Opperman is backing Rishi Sunak to take over as Prime Minister, if he stands in the leadership contest.

Opperman said: “I remain of the view that Rishi Sunak is the right person to be our Prime Minister.

“He is a serious person for serious times.

“He was right about the economy during the summer: we need his leadership to get us back on track.”

Richard Holden - Durham North West

Richard Holden MP is continuing to support Rishi Sunak “I’m backing Rishi to be the next leader because he is the candidate best placed to deliver both a competent government and the economic credibility my constituents, my party and our country needs.”

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Dehenna Davison – Bishop Auckland

The Northern Echo: Dehenna in an embrace with Liz Truss at the Darlington hustings in August.Dehenna in an embrace with Liz Truss at the Darlington hustings in August. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The Northern Echo understands that Ms Davison is waiting until speculation over the candidates dies down before coming out in support of her favourite.

Davison backed Liz Truss in the leadership campaign over the summer.

Paul Howell – Sedgefield

Paul Howell is yet to announce who he will be backing in the contest.

Peter Gibson – Darlington

Darlington MP Peter Gibson is remaining tight-lipped so far on who he’ll be backing to be the next Prime Minister.

Mr Gibson supported Liz Truss when she was up against Rishi Sunak over the summer.

Jill Mortimer

Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer was the first North East MP to declare her candidate of choice on Thursday (October 20) evening, just hours after Liz Truss resigned.

She said she would be backing Boris Johnson because he "can unite our Party and our Country."

Kevin Hollinrake – Thirsk and Malton

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake is one of the MPs backing Rishi Sunak, if he decides to stand in the campaign.

Hollinrake told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “The whole country is crying out for some stability and I think that’s what Rishi can bring – that calm, competence in everything he does.

“He has been tested in the second highest office of state as chancellor and I think he will bring the same calm competence to the job as Prime Minister.”

Matt Vickers - Stockton South

Matt Vickers, who was first elected in 2019 and had been a strong supporter of Boris Johnson, is also yet to declare who he’ll be backing in the race.

Jacob Young – Redcar

Redcar MP Jacob Young supported Rishi Sunak in the campaign over the summer, but is yet to announce who has his support this time around.

Simon Clarke - Middlesbrough South & Cleveland East & Ben Houchen – Tees Valley Mayor

The Northern Echo: Boris Johnson, centre, flanked by senior North East Tories Simon Clarke and Ben Houchen, who have today backed him to become the next Prime Minister.Boris Johnson, centre, flanked by senior North East Tories Simon Clarke and Ben Houchen, who have today backed him to become the next Prime Minister. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

In a joint statement with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, the MP and Levelling Up Secretary backed Boris Johnson to make a shock return to Downing Street.

Clarke and Houchen told the Telegraph: “Boris is the person we need to lead our country and our party.

“He won the greatest election victory for years on a mandate to unite and level up the UK, and inspired millions of people who had never voted Conservative before to get behind a generous, optimistic vision of what Britain can be. 

“People on Teesside love Boris because he recognised that while talent is evenly distributed across the country, opportunity is not. Boris gave us that opportunity. People who have felt left behind from Governments of both colours want their Prime Minister to make a success of Brexit, control illegal immigration and invest in our communities.  That’s what Boris would do and it’s why he is so popular right across the Red Wall seats that will decide the next election.

“This is an immensely serious moment both at home and abroad.  We back Boris because when the chips are down, he gets the big decisions right.  From lifting the Covid restrictions faster than anywhere else to defending Ukraine, he is a leader for the moments that count. 

“Boris would lead a broad-based, inclusive Government drawing on talent from right across the Conservative Party, driven by a disciplined Downing Street. Teesside has had difficult times and is now levelling up because of Boris. We know that for us, like Boris, the comeback will be greater than the setback.”

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