How contest for the Tory leadership could unfold

Q HOW WOULD A LEADERSHIP CONTEST WORK?

Candidates for the leadership must be nominated by two Conservative MPs. If only one candidate comes forward, he or she becomes leader. If a number of would-be leaders are nominated, the list is whittled down to a shortlist of two in a series of votes by MPs. The final pair then go to a postal ballot of all party members, with the position of leader – and prime minister – going to the victor.

Q HOW LONG WOULD THAT TAKE?

Sir Graham Brady would be responsible for overseeing the contest and setting a timetable. The campaign is usually expected to last around 12 weeks. Theresa May could remain as a caretaker prime minister during the campaign period unless she resigns...in which case, David Liddington could take on a caretaker role as he is Mrs May’s de-facto second-in-command.

Q THE 1922 COMMITTEE SEEMS TO HAVE A KEY ROLE, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

Widely known in Westminster as “the ’22”, the committee of all backbench Conservative MPs meets weekly when the House of Commons is sitting.

Q WHERE DOES THE UNUSUAL NAME COME FROM?

The committee takes its name from a meeting of Conservative MPs on October 19, 1922. The MPs successfully ended the party’s coalition with the Liberals, bringing down the government of David Lloyd George. The resulting general election was won by the Tories.