Decision on a new leader delayed by a week

THE Conservative party leadership election has been extended by a week to avoid clashing with the G20 meeting of world leaders in September.

The extension will also give more time to Tory party activists to grill the candidates at hustings in the race to succeed David Cameron as prime minister. The Conservative party board agreed at a meeting on Tuesday to move the date when the winner is announced from September 2 to September 9.

The meeting also decided to cap the amount that each of the candidates can spend on their campaign at £135,000. Sources said the decision to move the announcement from September 2 was to avoid requiring the new prime minister to attend immediately in Hangzhou, China two days later on September 4. This means that Mr Cameron will represent the UK at the G20 in one of his final appearances as prime minister.