Who will replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party?

The contest has started to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and six candidates have put themselves forward.

You can read more about the six contenders in the photo gallery above.

Conservative Members of Parliaments (MPs) will vote for their favourite of these candidates in September, bringing the number down to four.

Assuming no-one else drops out, there will then be another round of voting by Conservative MPs to choose the final two.

At this point in October members of the Conservative Party around the UK will have a chance to choose which of the two they want to be leader of the party.

What about Rishi Sunak?

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, The winning candidate will replace Rishi Sunak as party leader

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he would be stepping down as leader after the party lost the 2024 election.

The former prime minister accepted responsibility for the defeat which was the worst in the party's parliamentary history.

He will stay on as party leader until his successor is announced on 2 November.