Tory leadership contest: Boris Johnson agrees to TV debate under intense pressure from rivals, as Matt Hancock bows out of race

Health secretary’s move leaves just six candidates as Channel 4 head-to-head poised to happen without frontrunner

Matt Hancock withdraws from the race to be the next leader of the Conservative Party

Matt Hancock has dropped out of the Tory leadership race amid rumours the remaining contenders will unite to stop Boris Johnson becoming prime minister.

The health secretary announced his decision to withdraw hours after issuing a joint statement with Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid, and Rory Stewart to compel the frontrunner in taking part in a televised debate before the next vote.

Mr Johnson bowed to pressure to take part in the BBC debate on Tuesday but he signalled he would refuse to take part in the first clash, hosted by Channel 4 on Sunday.

See below for what was our live coverage.

Key Points

• Matt Hancock withdraws from Tory leadership race
• Chuka Umunna lands plum job as he moves to Lib Dems
• Johnson agrees to BBC TV debate amid pressure from rivals
• What would Churchill say? Jeremy Hunt taunts frontrunner
• Conservative Muslim forum chairman compares Johnson to Hitler

[14 June 2019 11:29 · Peter Stubley]

Meanwhile Sajid Javid seems to have confirmed he will not drop out - yet.

"We will have to wait and see what happens but I'm confident I've got growing support and what is necessary to keep going," he tells Sky News.

[14 June 2019 11:32 · Peter Stubley]

The latest YouGov poll shows the Brexit Party top with 26 per cent, followed by the Lib Dems on 22 per cent. Both Labour and the Conservatives are lagging just behind with 19 and 17 respectively.

[14 June 2019 11:36 · Peter Stubley]

Boris Johnson has received the backing (if it matters) of Lord Alan Sugar, who resigned from Labour in 2015 because of a "shift to the left" under Ed Miliband. Needless to say he doesn't think much of Jeremy Corbyn.

[14 June 2019 11:39 · Peter Stubley]

Philip Hammond has warned the candidates for the Tory leadership that they should stand by Britain’s “obligation” to pay the £39bn Brexit divorce bill negotiated by Theresa May, writes Europe correspondent Jon Stone.

In a veiled attack on Boris Johnson, who threatened to withhold the financial settlement payment as leverage for further Brexit concessions, the Chancellor said he “would not recommend” that a future leader renege on the commitment to the EU.

“We’ve always said that the UK is a country which honours its obligations,” Mr Hammond told reporters arriving at a meeting of EU finance minister in Luxembourg.

[14 June 2019 11:48 · Peter Stubley]

Sajid Javid begins the process of wooing Matt Hancock.

[14 June 2019 11:56 · Peter Stubley]

This is one MP who does not want to be wooed over the weekend.

[14 June 2019 12:04 · Peter Stubley]

It seems recent Boris Johnson-convert Lord Alan Sugar once suggested that the leading Brexiteer should go to jail.

[14 June 2019 12:07 · Peter Stubley]

Lord Sugar has told the Press Association that he would back anyone who could stop Jeremy Corbyn.

I think that Boris will get the job and from my point of view I will be pleased with that, because I'm thinking beyond Brexit and to the next election and I think Boris is actually quite liked by the population.

And while the population should not vote for a person they like - they should vote for the policies - the reality is they don't. They vote for someone who they like. And Boris has got a good chance because he's a likeable chap and from my point of view, anybody who can stop Corbyn being elected, I would back them.

[14 June 2019 12:08 · Peter Stubley]

Boris Johnson has told the BBC he will take part in their leadership debate on Tuesday - which is due to take place after the second ballot.

He will also be interviewed on Radio 4 at 1pm today.

[14 June 2019 12:25 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson will take part in the 'Our Next Prime Minister' debate on BBC One, Tuesday, 8pm - but it is not clear whether he will take part in the Channel 4 debate on Sunday.

Westminster is eagerly awaiting his interview on Radio 4 shortly, as he has been remarkably tight-lipped over the course of this contest.

In quotes released ahead of the interview, Mr Johnson said he was "very keen" on TV debates but that viewers might not like too much "blue-on-blue action".

He gave a strong hint that he would not take part in Channel 4's outing - saying the Tuesday debate was the "best forum".