Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt in Kent for Tory leadership race
Published: 06:00, 11 July 2019
Updated: 07:34, 11 July 2019
The battle to become the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister will come to Kent later with hundreds of party members attending the latest in a series of hustings.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will be quizzed by party members from across the county as the campaign winds up.
The two contenders will get the chance to set out their vision for the party and country and Brexit is guaranteed to be a talking point.
Scroll down to listen to our polictical editor Paul Francis talk about the contest
Boris Johnson remains the firm favourite to succeed Theresa May according to the polls and enjoys the support of most of the county’s MPs.
The exceptions are North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark. The pair are backing Jeremy Hunt.
The hustings in Maidstone follow the first and only head-to-head televised debate on Tuesday which saw the rivals trade blows over Brexit and questioned each other’s suitability to run the country.
Boris Johnson is making his second campaign visit to the county but Jeremy Hunt has not - until today - ventured into what is arguably a key battleground.
Many party members are thought to have voted already as ballot papers were sent out last week.
The result is expected to be announced on July 23.
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Paul Francis