The World at One
BBC Radio 4

The next caller asks about the possibility of introducing zero tariffs after Brexit.

"If you went zero tariffs on agricultural products you would get cheaper beef and cheaper lamb," replies Mr Stewart.

However, he says that would be "the end of the farming industry in the UK".

"You could also import cheaper cars which would be good for consumer but the UK car industry would be wiped out," he says.

The caller describes this reply as "Project Fear in overdrive".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

The next question concerns social care.

Mr Stewart describes social care as "the great unfinished revolution of our society".

He says "a national conversation is needed" to work out how social care is funded.

"There is not currently enough sustainable money in the system to provide care for all of us," he says.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Asked about abortion, he says he is "strongly in support of a woman's right to choose".

He says he would allow MPs a free vote on the matter, but adds: "There isn't an appetite to change the law in Parliament."

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart says he wants to give Parliament "a final chance" to vote through a Brexit deal.

He argues this would be possible "with a new leader in place who doesn't have red lines and who is willing to find a compromise".

If an agreement can't be reached he says he would then seek "a fresh mandate through a citizen's assembly".

He confirms he would not support a second referendum arguing "it wouldn't resolve anything".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Image source, EPA

Leadership hopeful Rory Stewart is submitting himself to questions from Radio 4 listeners on The World at One.

If you would like to ask one the lines are still open: 0370 010 0444.

The first questioner asks if Mr Stewart agrees with Michael Heseltine's assertion that the Brexit referendum result was "the most disastrous in peacetime Britain".

"I disagree," he replies adding he respects the result of referendum.

"It would be very divisive to try and lurch to a no-deal Brexit or a Remain position," he goes on.

"We need to compromise.

"I know that is very unpopular but it is the only we are going to have stability in this country."

Two Tory leadership candidates have clashed over whether they would shut down Parliament early to force through a no-deal Brexit. You might have heard the technical term "prorogue" being thrown around.

Esther McVey said the measure was part of a "toolkit" that could be used to ensure Brexit is delivered on time.

But Michael Gove said such a move would be "wrong" and contradict "the best traditions of British democracy".

Read more here about the potential tactic.

Forget electronic voting or open ballots. There's none of that here.

Much of the action will take place in the confines of Committee Room 14, one of those grand old chambers situated - quite literally - along the Palace of Westminster's corridors of power.

Here Conservative MPs will file in, during successive rounds, to vote and pop a ballot paper into a black metal box.

Read more here.

Labour MP Stella Creasy has hit out at an MP defending Jeremy Hunt's stance on abortion.

Tory MP and member of the Women and Equalities Committee Vicky Ford tweeted that Mr Hunt was the "health secretary who arranged for women in [Northern Ireland] to be able access services in England".

But Ms Creasy rejected that view, adding: "You know full well Jeremy Hunt resisted it until it became obvious [Labour] would win.

"And given we are being condemned for human rights abuses for not giving NI women equal access to abortion, what chance of that being sorted under his leadership?"

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Boris Johnson is "pitching to a socially and economically Conservative electorate" says Ash Sarkar - senior editor at Novaro Media.

However, she argues that particular voter base has changed and cites statistics showing 53% are in favour of higher taxes to fund the NHS.

"Public appetite has increased for increased for public spending," she adds.

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Conservative MP - and Michael Gove supporter - George Eustice says the revelations made by Mr Gove about drug use will not damage his chances in the leadership contest.

"You have to distinguish between a media storm and from what matters in this leadership contest," he says.

He argues that David Cameron became leader of the Conservative Party in 2005 despite drug use speculation.

Boris Johnson’s proposed higher rate income cut is a “cynical move”, according to the shadow chancellor.

Labour’s John McDonnell cited an IFS report that saying the people who will benefit the most are those not paying National Insurance, "so quite high earning pensioners, those people living of their share income".

He added: "Who’s that? Well, I bet that’s a large number of people voting in this leadership election.

"Who else benefits? MPs. So I think this is quite a cynical move by Boris Johnson to attract the votes he needs.”

Mr McDonnell also said the money involved was "desperately needed elsewhere", such as to tackle child poverty, social care issues and police funding.

"That’s where this money should be going.”

Speaking at an event run by The Bruges Group, Esther McVey said: "My clear agenda is to deliver Brexit on the 31 October and then we must unite the country, and then unite our party too."

She added: "Britain's public sector workers need a pay rise and our police and our schools desperately need cash."

So far today we've had Health Secretary Matt Hancock, former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt all launch their leadership campaigns. Esther McVey has also been making her pitch at an event in Westminster.

This afternoon we're expecting Michael Gove to officially kick off his leadership bid, too.

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng is asked if Boris Johnson will take part in TV leadership debates.

"I suspect he will focus on winning among the MPs," he replies.

He says "there will be ample opportunity" for public debates, if the leadership hopeful gets to the last stage.

The protester at the Esther McVey event has told ITV's Paul Brand, external his name is Graham Moore and he is "angry that MPs haven't delivered Brexit".

Speaking at an event called "Taking Back Controls of Britain's EU Exit", things take an unexpected turn.

BBC News Channel

Conservative Patrick McLoughlin says Jeremy Hunt - his man for the top job - "believes that he is able to get a deal that can pass through Parliament".

He says Mr Hunt thinks he could approach the whole subject of Brexit "incredibly differently" to the current government, including talking more to the Irish Taioseach and other European leaders on the backstop.

Mr McLoughlin says "you never know" if a new deal could be reached by the end of October.

"No-one's suggesting that this is going to be easy," he adds.

Elsewhere in London, Esther McVey is selling herself as leader at an event right now.

The former work and pensions secretary is standing in front of a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, as ITV's Paul Brand notes, and is focusing much of her speech on an excoriating attack on the current government, as the Guardian's Peter Walker points out.