Battle for No10 LIVE: Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt fight to be Prime Minister

Welcome to the MailOnline’s live blog following all the twists and turns in the race for the next Prime Minister.

The battle for Downing Street is back in full swing today with Boris Johnson pushing for a ‘dream ticket’ comeback with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt frantically wooing MPs.

The trio look best-placed to hit the high threshold of 100 nominations from politicians required to feature on the Tory leadership ballot – although it is possible only one or two will make the numbers by the Monday afternoon deadline.

Backers of the ex-PM are clamouring for a shock return just six weeks after he was ousted from power amid a flood of ministerial resignations over Partygate and sleaze. Some have speculated that as many as 140 out of the 357 Conservative MPs could line up behind him – making him all-but unstoppable.

However, critics believe his fans are noisy rather than numerous, predicting he will fall short of 100. According to the ConservativeHome tally, Mr Sunak is the current front runner with 35 openly declared, while Mr Johnson has 19 and Ms Mordaunt 11.

Mr Johnson is believed to be flying back early from his holiday in the Dominican Republic as he ‘takes soundings’ on whether to run to take over after the humiliating resignation of Liz Truss.

But in a blow, Tory MP and former ally Crispin Blunt warned that Mr Johnson has ‘personality weaknesses’ alongside an ‘astonishing set of skills’. ‘I don’t think we can go back there for the next two years,’ the former minister told Sky News.

There are also concerns that some centrist MPs could resign the Tory whip or even defect in protest as they regard him as unacceptable to lead. That could open the door for Keir Starmer to force a snap election and trigger a Conservative wipeout.

A staggering poll today shows the Tories 39 points behind Labour, at their lowest ever rating.