How many backers do Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt have?

  • Published
Rishi Sunak pictured outside his home on FridayImage source, Reuters

Conservative MPs declared who they were backing to become the UK's next prime minister in October 2022. This article shows the BBC's final tally, updated at 13:27 BST.

219 out of 357 Tory MPs went public with their support for one of the candidates in the leadership race:

  • Rishi Sunak - 193 MPs

  • Penny Mordaunt - 26 MPs

A further 58 MPs had publicly declared their support for Boris Johnson, who pulled out of the race on Sunday. Some of those MPs moved their allegiance elsewhere.

We only included MPs who told the BBC on the record who they were backing, or who publicly declared their support.

Candidates required the support of at least 100 Tory MPs. Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak were the only two candidates to confirm they were running.

The list highlighted how Conservative MPs changed their minds since the summer.

Former chancellor Sajid Javid decided to support Mr Sunak, after backing Liz Truss during the last leadership election. Another notable Tory MP to switch their support to Mr Sunak was Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker - who initially supported Suella Braverman's leadership bid over the summer, before shifting to Liz Truss.

There was surprise when former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and former home secretary Priti Patel both announced they were backing Mr Johnson to return as prime minister, despite having called for him to resign in the summer. Both then switched their support to Mr Sunak, after Mr Johnson said he would not be running.

Rishi Sunak - 193 MPs

  • Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden

  • Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney

  • Lucy Allan, MP for Telford

  • Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey

  • Victoria Atkins, MP for Louth and Horncastle

  • Richard Bacon, MP for Norfolk South

  • Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden

  • Siobhan Baillie, MP for Stroud

  • Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk

  • Steve Baker, MP for High Wycombe

  • Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire

  • John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay

  • Simon Baynes, MP for Clwyd South

  • Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme

  • Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley

  • Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate

  • Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West

  • Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

  • Suella Braverman, MP for Fareham

  • Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire

  • Steve Brine, MP for Winchester

  • Anthony Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire

  • Felicity Buchan, MP for Kensington

  • Sir Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon

  • Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar

  • Alun Cairns, MP for Vale of Glamorgan

  • James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk

  • Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge

  • Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes

  • Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham

  • Rehman Chishti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham

  • Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells

  • Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

  • Chris Clarkson, MP for Heywood and Middleton

  • James Cleverly, MP for Braintree (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Robert Courts, MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire

  • Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey

  • Sir Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon

  • Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire

  • Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Mon

  • James Daly, MP for Bury North

  • David Davies, MP for Monmouth

  • Gareth Davies, MP for Stamford and Grantham

  • Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex

  • Philip Davies, MP for Shipley

  • David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden

  • Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon

  • Leo Docherty, MP for Aldershot (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Michelle Donelan, MP for Chippenham

  • Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay

  • Oliver Dowden, MP for Hertsmere

  • Flick Drummond, MP for Meon Valley

  • Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow

  • Sir James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and South East (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green

  • Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe

  • Tobias Ellwood, MP for East Bournemouth

  • George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth

  • Laura Farris, MP for Newbury

  • Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness

  • Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset

  • Lucy Frazer, MP for South East Cambridgeshire

  • George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk (switched from supporting Penny Mordaunt)

  • Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green

  • Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup

  • Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest

  • Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden

  • Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

  • Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington

  • Jo Gideon, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central

  • John Glen, MP for Salisbury

  • Sir Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby

  • Michael Gove, MP for Surrey Heath

  • Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester

  • Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald

  • James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire

  • Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell

  • Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs

  • Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow

  • Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon

  • Matt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk

  • Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham

  • Mark Harper, MP for Forest of Dean

  • Sally-Ann Hart, MP for Hastings and Rye

  • Simon Hart, MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

  • Sir John Hayes, MP for South Holland and The Deepings

  • Sir Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire

  • James Heappey, MP for Wells

  • Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey

  • Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire

  • Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset

  • Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham

  • Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton

  • Paul Holmes, MP for Eastleigh

  • John Howell, MP for Henley

  • Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield

  • Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey

  • Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich

  • Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove

  • Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark

  • David Johnston, MP for Wantage

  • Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough

  • Fay Jones, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire

  • Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon

  • Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester

  • Sir Greg Knight, MP for East Yorkshire

  • Danny Kruger, MP for Devizes

  • Robert Largan, MP for High Peak

  • Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire

  • Andrew Lewer, MP for Northampton South

  • Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth

  • Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset

  • Mark Logan, MP for Bolton North East

  • Jonathan Lord, MP for Woking

  • Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham

  • Alan Mak, MP for Havant

  • Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes

  • Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall

  • Julie Marson, MP for Hertford and Stortford

  • Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland

  • Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys

  • Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley

  • Mark Menzies, MP for Fylde

  • Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View

  • Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle

  • Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Nigel Mills, MP for Amber Valley

  • Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield

  • Gagan Mohindra, MP for South West Hertfordshire

  • David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis

  • David Mundell, MP for Dumfrieshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale

  • Andrew Murrison, MP for South West Wiltshire

  • Sir Robert Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst

  • Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North

  • Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire

  • Neil O'Brien, MP for Harborough

  • Guy Opperman, MP for Hexham

  • Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby

  • Priti Patel, MP for Witham (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole

  • Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South

  • Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane

  • Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich

  • Victoria Prentis, MP for Banbury

  • Tom Pursglove, MP for Corby (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham

  • Will Quince, MP for Colchester

  • Dominic Raab, MP for Esher and Walton

  • Tom Randall, MP for Gedling

  • Angela Richardson, MP for Guildford

  • Dean Russell, MP for Watford

  • David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield

  • Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon

  • Andrew Selous, MP for South West Bedfordshire

  • Grant Shapps, MP for Welwyn Hatfield

  • David Simmonds, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

  • Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North

  • Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon

  • Royston Smith, MP for Southampton Itchen

  • Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood

  • Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle

  • Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South

  • Sir Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon

  • Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon

  • Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness

  • Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer

  • Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest West

  • Sir Robert Syms, MP for Poole

  • Maggie Throup, MP for Erewash

  • Edward Timpson, MP for Eddisbury

  • Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon

  • Michael Tomlinson, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

  • Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks

  • Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling

  • Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes

  • Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton South

  • Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet

  • Robin Walker, MP for Worcester

  • Jamie Wallis, MP for Bridgend

  • Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent

  • Sir John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk

  • Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire

  • Sir Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire

  • Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam

  • Mike Wood, MP for Dudley South

  • Nadhim Zahawi, MP for Stratford-on-Avon (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

Penny Mordaunt - 26 MPs

Image source, TOBY MELVILLE
  • Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne

  • Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire

  • Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe

  • Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford

  • James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd

  • Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport

  • Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth

  • Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Marcus Fysh, MP for Yeovil

  • Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet

  • Damian Green, MP for Ashford

  • Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border

  • John Lamont, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

  • Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire

  • Dame Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke

  • Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley

  • Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe and Nantwich

  • John Penrose, MP for Weston-super-Mare

  • Nicola Richards, MP for West Bromwich East

  • Mary Robinson, MP for Cheadle

  • Bob Seely, MP for Isle of Wight

  • Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives

  • Craig Tracey, MP for North Warwickshire

  • Giles Watling, MP for Clacton (switched from supporting Boris Johnson)

  • Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire

Boris Johnson - Before he pulled out, 58 MPs pledged their support

Image source, Reuters
  • Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty

  • Lucy Allan, MP for Telford

  • Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield (has since switched to supporting Penny Mordaunt)

  • Sarah Atherton, MP for Wrexham

  • Shaun Bailey, MP for West Bromwich West

  • Scott Benton, MP for Blackpool South

  • Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough

  • Ben Bradley, MP for Mansfield

  • Paul Bristow, MP for Peterborough

  • Sir Bill Cash, MP for Stone

  • Sir Christopher Chope, MP for Christchurch

  • Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

  • Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw

  • James Cleverly, MP for Braintree (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Leo Docherty, MP for Aldershot (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire

  • Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset

  • Sir James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Mark Eastwood, MP for Dewsbury

  • Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North

  • Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield (has since switched to supporting Penny Mordaunt)

  • James Grundy, MP for Leigh

  • Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland

  • Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Antony Higginbotham, MP for Burnley

  • Philip Hollobone, MP for Kettering

  • Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough

  • Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood

  • Caroline Johnson, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham

  • Gareth Johnson, MP for Dartford

  • Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough

  • Ian Levy, MP for Blyth Valley

  • Marco Longhi, MP for Dudley North

  • Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln

  • Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage

  • Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Jill Mortimer, MP for Hartlepool

  • Holly Mumby-Croft, MP for Scunthorpe

  • Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall

  • Lia Nici, MP for Great Grimsby

  • Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon

  • Priti Patel, MP for Witham (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin

  • Tom Pursglove, MP for Corby (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset

  • Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford

  • Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West

  • Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham

  • Henry Smith, MP for Crawley

  • Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East

  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-Upon-Tweed

  • Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Ben Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North

  • Sir John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)

  • Nadhim Zahawi, MP for Stratford-on-Avon (has since switched to supporting Rishi Sunak)