FRANTIC FORTNIGHT TO DECIDE NEXT PM

TORY RIVALS MAKE PITCH IN STANDARD BEFORE CRUCIAL TWO WEEKS OF RACE

- Nicholas Cecil, David Bond and Rachael Burford

THE BATTLE to be Britain's next Prime Minister is set to enter a frantic fortnight of campaigning to win crucial early votes.

MPs were voting today to choose two out of Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt for a shortlist to be put to some 160,000 Tory party members over the summer.

The three contenders made their final pitches in the Standard to win over enough MPs to get them in the last two.

Once the final two are chosen, focus will quickly shift to next Monday when BBC One will host a live TV debate with the final two candidates, at 9pm, presented by Sophie Raworth.

MPs believe that many of the Tory members in their constituencies will watch this showdown and so it could have a pivotal impact on the contest if there is a clear winner.

They expect it to kick off a race to get early votes as ballot papers will go out in the week starting August 1, partly because of fears that the replies could be delayed by a threatened strike by postal workers.

Many Tory members will be heading off on holiday during August and are expected to swiftly cast their vote beforehand.

So it is possible that the final result may already be largely shaped in a fortnight or so, even though the final result will only be announced on September 5.

The first hustings is due to take place next Thursday, followed by around two a week, and the final one in London in the last week of August. Former chancellor Mr Sunak, who has been stressing his experience, vowed to lead a "responsible and honest government to steer us through tough economic headwinds" as inflation hit a new 40-year-high of 9.4 per cent.

Foreign Secretary Ms Truss, who would bring in immediate tax cuts, pledged "boldness of vision and clarity of purpose" to get the economy "firing on all cylinders in London and the rest of the country".