The five hopefuls fighting for the top job

A rundown on the contenders, their odds, and where they stand on key issues of free movement and Article 50

Theresa May 59

Odds (Ladbrokes): 1/3 Current job: Home Secretary (since May 2010); MP for Maidenhead (since 1997)

Background: Grew up in Oxfordshire, the only child of a Church of England vicar. Attended Wheatley Park Comprehensive School and Oxford University. Married with no children. Will you end free movement? “I’m going to set out my negotiating principles in more detail in the coming weeks. But there is clearly no mandate for a deal that involves accepting the free movement of people as it has worked until now.” When will you trigger Article 50? “Article 50 should not be invoked before the end of this year as we need to get the British negotiating strategy agreed and clear.” Number of MPs backing: 104 Key supporters: Jeremy Hunt, Justine Greening, Damian Green, Brandon Lewis, David Jones, Dominic Grieve, John Hayes Most interesting thing about you: “I used to own a share in a race horse called Dome Patrol.”

Liam Fox 54

Odds (Ladbrokes): 40/1 Current job: MP for North Somerset (since 1992)

Background: Brought up in a council house in East Kilbride. Attended St Bride’s High School,East Kilbride, and Glasgow University. Married with no children. Will you end free movement? “I would end free movement and I would keep the target to cut net migration to the tens of thousands.” When will you trigger Article 50? “As soon as we reach a deal with the EU – towards the end of this year. That would mean we could leave the EU before Jan 1 2019.” Number of MPs backing: 11 Key supporters: Sir Gerald Howarth, Robert Goodwill, Scott Mann, Robert Syms, Paul Maynard, David Nuttall Most interesting thing about you: “I collect art galleries. I go around and take photographs of pictures and recolour them slightly on my computer.”

Michael Gove 48

Odds (Ladbrokes): 8/1 Current job: Justice Secretary (since May 2015); MP for Surrey Heath (since May 2005) Background: A former Times journalist. Attended state school and then independent Robert Gordon’s College on a scholarship; Oxford University. Married with two children. Will you end free

movement? “I will end free movement, restore democratic control of immigration policy and introduce an Australian-style points system by 2020. I will reduce numbers and Parliament will decide exactly what level of immigration there should be.” When will you trigger Article

50? “There is little prospect of that happening before the end of this calendar year. The UK will have left the EU by 2020.” Number of MPs backing: 27 Key supporters: Nicky Morgan, John Whittingdale, Nick Boles, Ed Vaizey, Dominic Raab, Bob Neill Most interesting thing about you: “My favourite holiday destination is Germany.”

Stephen Crabb 43

Odds (Ladbrokes): 25/1 Current job: Work and Pensions Secretary (since March 2016); MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire (since 2005)

Background: Brought up in a council house by a single mother who fled his father’s domestic violence. Attended Tasker Milward comprehensive school and Bristol University. Married with two children. Will you end free

movement? “On this issue the British people have been clear; ending the current free movement arrangements will be a red line in my negotiations.” When will you trigger Article 50? “Article 50 should be triggered only when the UK government is ready to begin detailed negotiations on the best deal the UK can get on leaving the EU.” Number of MPs backing: 23 Key supporters: Sajid Javid, Chloe Smith, Edward Timpson, Chris Skidmore, Simon Hart, Philip Dunne Most interesting thing about you: “I am well known for my Welsh pride, but I was actually born in Scotland.”

Andrea Leadsom 53

Odds (Ladbrokes): 9/2 Current job: Energy minister (since May 2015); MP for South Northamptonshire (since May 2010) Background: A senior banker at Barclays who worked closely with the Bank of England after the collapse of Barings. Attended Tonbridge Girls’ Grammar School; Warwick university. Married with three children. Will you end free movement? “I absolutely promise to end free movement, but the net migration numbers will depend on what is in the UK’s interests.” When will you trigger Article 50? “I will trigger Article 50 as soon as humanly possible – definitely within the next year – so we can get on with leaving the EU. It will be subject to what is feasible.” Number of MPs backing: 21 Key supporters: Iain Duncan Smith, Penny Mordaunt, Tim Loughton, Tom Pursglove, William Wragg, Chris Heaton-Harris, Bill Cash, Owen Paterson Most interesting thing about you: “My family would say it’s my sense of humour – I find life very funny.”