BIG GUNS TURN FIRE ON PENNY AHEAD OF TV CLASH

FINAL FIVE STEP UP CAMPAIGNS ON KEY WEEKEND

- David Bond and Rachael Burford

THE main contenders in the Conservative race to become Britain's next Prime Minister stepped up their attacks today ahead of crunch TV showdowns.

All five remaining candidates in the contest to replace Boris Johnson will go head-to-head in make or break live TV debates, starting tonight on Channel 4 and then on Sunday on ITV. A third will take place on Sky on Tuesday.

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak remained ahead in yesterday's second round of voting by Tory MPs but trade minister and former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt was coming under heavy fire after she came second and increased her lead over third placed Liz Truss.

Two other contenders remain in the race, one nation Tory Tom Tugendhat and ex-equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, after Attorney General Suella Braverman crashed out.

With the third round of voting on Monday, this weekend looks set to be dominated by horse-trading among Conservative MPs as they try to work out who to back in a contest which has become increasingly acrimonious. Ms Mordaunt has attracted the most hostile briefing with rivals questioning her performance as a minister, her career as a Naval reservist and her views on gender identity.

One of her backers, the former Brexit secretary David Davis, has claimed she is the victim of a "black ops" campaign.

Today, Tory ex-leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who is supporting Foreign Secretary Ms Truss, appeared to take aim at Ms Mordaunt over her lack of experience at the top of government.