The Tory leadership campaign was getting even dirtier today as right-wingers launched fresh bids to scupper the two candidates out in front.
As five candidates prepare to clash in a 7pm Channel 4 debate tonight, Boris Johnson has quietly indicated he wants “anyone but Rishi” Sunak to win, according to The Times - despite his aides denying he is backing anyone.
And Lord Frost, allied to third-placed Liz Truss, launchd a fresh salvo against second-placed Penny Mordaunt who he has claimed was not good enough at her job.
He urged right-winger Kemi Badenoch - in fourth place - to step down and make way for Ms Truss.
But that prompted a furious backlash against Lord Frost, a whisky lobbyist who was given a plum Cabinet job and seat in the Lords for life by his chum Boris Johnson.
Tory MP Simon Hoare, a backer of Rishi Sunak, exploded: “I don’t wish to be rude BUT who the hell is an unelected, failed Minister to tell any MP what to do?
“For some unknown reason David Frost perpetually thinks we give a flying xxxx what he thinks. We don’t and we won’t.”
Even right-wing MPs were left furious by attempts to bounce them into backing Ms Truss, with one, Lee Anderson, hitting back in a WhatsApp group: “Colleagues will make their own minds up”.
Ms Mordaunt hit back today in a Sky News interview: “People are gong to try and stop me.”
She admitted “anyone going for this job needs to be tested and scrutinised” but denied she was inexperienced.
“I’m not engaging with any of that,” she said.
After insisting trans women are women in 2018, Ms Mordaunt has since adopted a harder line on trans rights and today said she disagreed with her gay twin brother on some issues.
MPs have accused her of flip-flopping to appeal to Tories in a ‘culture war’ over women’s rights and trans rights.
But Ms Mordaunt said she wants to talk about access to healthcare - not toilets. “Government shouldn’t be telling pubs and clubs what their toilet policy is,” she said - hitting back at Kemi Badenoch who has ordered men’s and women’s toilets in public buildings.
“The policy we have in England is the right one, which is that you can have a plurality of provision” on whether or not trans women are excluded from some female spaces, she said.
According to The Times, Mr Johnson has indicated he doesn’t mind if Ms Mordaunt wins - as long as it isn’t Mr Sunak.
A source told The Times: "The whole No 10 team hates Rishi. It's personal. It's vitriolic. They don't blame Saj [ Sajid Javid ] for bringing him down.
“They blame Rishi. They think he was planning this for months."
An ally of the PM insisted to the Mirror: “He’s not backing or opposing anyone. It’s for them to make the case.
“There is no personal agenda that would override what’s best for the UK.”
Transport minister and Truss backer Wendy Morton, appearing on Times Radio, said she is "absolutely not" involved in any kind of untoward campaign from the Liz Truss camp.
Former Cabinet minister David Davis, a supporter of Ms Mordaunt, had called out "black ops" being directed at her.
Ms Morton said: "What I am involved in is a campaign to get Liz Truss elected as the next leader of the Conservative Party because I happen to think, I know, that she's the right candidate.
"I worked with her at the Foreign Office and I saw first hand how hard-working she is, how dedicated she is, and how she just gets on with the job and she delivers."
Suella Braverman, the Attorney General, came out in support of Ms Truss after being eliminated from the contest.
She fared the worst in the second round of voting and was eliminated to leave five contenders who will take part in the first televised debate on Friday evening.
Ms Braverman described the Foreign Secretary as the "best person to unleash the opportunities of Brexit " and deliver tax cuts, as the right of the party seeks to rally round a single candidate.
Taking influential Tory Steve Baker's vote with her, it was a blow to Kemi Badenoch, who was facing pressure to pull out and back Ms Truss to keep Mr Sunak or Ms Mordaunt out of No 10.
Sources close to Ms Braverman told the PA news agency she made the decision after holding talks with Ms Truss.
In a statement, the Attorney General said: "Liz is the best person to unleash the opportunities of Brexit, and deliver much needed tax cuts.
"I'm confident she will defend free speech, champion equality of opportunity and take a robust line on illegal immigration."
Ms Mordaunt has faced a scathing attack from former Brexit minister Lord Frost, who also urged Ms Badenoch to pull out of the Tory leadership contest so there can be "unity among free marketeers".
Lord Frost, seen as an influential figure about the Tory Party grassroots, described Ms Mordaunt as "absent on parade" when he worked with her on post-Brexit negotiations last year.
Tory MP Dame Maria Miller, pressed on whether Ms Mordaunt could fall victim to dirty tactics as she seeks to replace Mr Johnson, said her candidate wanted a positive campaign.
"Penny's support among Members of Parliament has grown, and that is the same throughout the country," Dame Maria told Sky News.
She said polling is showing that her "support base is growing".
Dame Maria added: "This leadership contest is run along a set of lines and I think people will want it to be a positive campaign. We're colleagues, together, we're not opposing each other in a fundamental political sense.
"It is just about getting a new leader."
Dame Maria, a Mordaunt backer, shrugged off the criticism from Lord Frost.
She told Sky News on Friday: "I have seen her to be a very effective campaigner. She really is one of the leading proponents of Brexit and was throughout the campaign."
Mr Sunak picked up 101 votes in the second ballot, Ms Mordaunt 83, Ms Truss 64, Ms Badenoch 49 and Tom Tugendhat 32.
Mr Tugendhat, despite dropping five votes, insisted he would not quit the race as the remaining contenders progress to a round of televised debates.
"I have never turned down a challenge because the odds were against me. I don't plan to start now," the senior backbencher said.
His allies are hoping that his fortunes can be reversed by a strong performance in the TV debates over the coming days, with backer Tory MP Jake Berry stressing that it will be a "key weekend" for his candidate.
Ms Badenoch's campaign, however, has also said she is "in it to win".
Channel 4 said all five candidates have confirmed they will take part in its debate on Friday night, with further televised clashes scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday.
The next round of voting is due on Monday, with subsequent rounds if required until two candidates are left, who will then battle it out over the summer to win the support of Conservative members.
Their choice of the next prime minister will be announced on September 5.
Mr Johnson will then formally tender his resignation to the Queen to make way for his successor the following day.
