All eyes are on which candidates Conservative MPs are backing to be the next Prime Minister.

Three candidates currently remain in the contest to become the next leader of the party, after Boris Johnson announced on July 7 he was quitting and will stay on until his successor is announced on September 5.

In Essex, two local MPs have announced who they wish to become the next Prime Minister.

Alex Burghart, the MP for Brentwood and Ongar, previously announced his support for Kemi Badenoch in the race to be the next Conservative leader.

However on Tuesday (July 18), Badenoch became the latest candidate to be knocked out of the race, with another vote set to take place on Wednesday – leaving just two candidates remaining.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon has said he backs Rishi Sunak as the next Prime Minister. Mr Sunak has also won the most support in the latest MPs’ ballot.

Meanwhile Dame Eleanor Laing, the MP for Epping Forest has not publicly announced who she is backing.

After the final ballot, that will leave two candidates remaining, there will be a ballot of the wider Conservative party membership to select the successor for Mr Johnson.