And they're off! Seven would-be contenders have served notice that they want to enter the race for the Tory leadership.

No great surprises. In alphabetical order, they're Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat.

A shadow cabinet member told Sky News, however, that only five – Badenoch, Cleverly, Jenrick, Patel and Tugendhat - are "serious candidates". Harsh, but probably true.

Although Mr Cleverly was the only candidate to announce before nominations opened at 7pm on Wednesday that he's running, the others all confirmed their intention to stand.

They did so by requesting a "nomination pack" from 1922 Committee chairman Bob Blackman, who last week won a battle against officials inside party HQ who wanted a quick contest.

The pack includes details of how the contest will be run and the rules. For instance, no MP may nominate more than one candidate. If they do, the second nomination is invalid.

Another rule is that the candidates must not agree to take part in any televised hustings unless arranged by new interim party chairman Richard Fuller, which seems rather petty and bureaucratic.

With parliament rising for the summer next Tuesday, candidates validly nominated before the deadline Monday will be voted on by MPs when they return to Westminster in September until there are four left in the race.

Those four will then take part in a "beauty contest" at the Tory conference in Birmingham, which starts on 29 September, and then MPs will choose the final two in the first week back at Westminster again on 7 October.

That was always Mr Blackman's favoured timetable. It means Rishi Sunak has more than 14 weeks left as acting leader – and potentially six more PMQs - against Sir Keir Starmer before handing over to his successor.

The youngest MP in the House of Commons is known as the "baby of the house".

This moniker is currently held by Sam Carling, the 22-year-old Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire. 

Giving his maiden speech in the Commons today, Mr Carling said the pandemic is what led him to politics.

He would have been around 18 when the pandemic started in early 2020.

Mr Carling said: "I was in the first cohort of students whose A-level exams were cancelled during the pandemic, and in many ways it was that experience that politicised me.

"I grew up in a deprived, rural area and was concerned from a young age to see a progressive decline in local high streets, alongside growing problems in public services, notably within schools.

"When I was in my final year at a rural school, budget cuts forced the closure of its sixth form, leaving me and many others having to find alternative provision at short notice, which wasn't easy for many, who faced very long journeys indeed to the nearest alternatives.

"The closure not only disrupted education but also fragmented the community, as students were scattered to different institutions.

"But I never connected those issues to politics and the decisions being made in this place, until I saw the very direct impact of those decisions around schools in the pandemic.

"The response to the crisis, the decisions about exams – or lack thereof – provided to students, made it clear to a great many previously disengaged young people that political choices have real and immediate consequences.

"We have got to work across this House to improve engagement in our democracy, and a large part of that must revolve around rebuilding trust in politics."

Sky chief political correspondent Jon Craig is currently camped out in parliament as the nominations for the Tory leadership race are set to open at 7pm.

He has heard that the camps of seven MPs have collected the paperwork needed to nominate someone.

The groups are all figures we had expected to hear a bid from:

• James Cleverly;
• Priti Patel;
• Robert Jenrick;
• Kemi Badenoch;
• Tom Tugendhat;
• Mel Stride;
• Suella Braverman.

The nominations close on Monday afternoon - so there is still time for others to join the race.

Jon says senior Tory MPs reckon there are five serious candidates: Mr Cleverly, Ms Patel, Ms Badenoch, Mr Jenrick and Mr Tugendhat.

Veteran Labour MP John McDonnell led the rebellion which ultimately saw him and six other colleagues suspended from the parliamentary party.

They wanted to see a mention of the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap included in the King's Speech - and voted alongside the SNP and Lib Dems to do so.

He has now written in The Guardian why he felt the need to do so.

Mr McDonnell said: "Seven Labour MPs, myself included, voting for an amendment when the government has such an overwhelming majority will be criticised by some as futile or gesture politics.

"Of course, I disagree.

"First, the stance taken has brought so much more welcome attention to the issue of child poverty and the impact of the egregious two-child cap. It is motivating campaigners to focus action in the forthcoming budget on child poverty.

"Second, it has meant that the government will inevitably have to address this issue, and has increased significantly the likelihood that the government will abolish the cap.

"Third, it has demonstrated that MPs, if they believe something is right, are willing to risk everything and stand by their cause.

"At a time when trust in our political system is at an all-time low, maybe from time to time some small interventions of this kind are needed to lift our spirits and confidence in our democracy."

Earlier, we reported that Apsana Begum claimed she was told by Labour they would not continue their support of her following her experience of domestic violence if she rebelled on the two-child benefit cap.

In response, A Labour Party spokesperson said: "We do not recognise these allegations."

It is understood the party has not been provided with any evidence to support Ms Begum's claims - and the party has supported her through what she experienced.

 At 7pm, the race to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader will officially begin.

So far, only shadow home secretary James Cleverly has declared his intention to run.

However, it is expected that the likes of Tom Tugendhat, Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick and Kevin Hollinrake will all join the contest.

Nominations close on Monday afternoon.

The winner is set to be announced on 2 November.

Read how the public feel about the various candidates below:

One of the former Labour MPs who rebelled against the government yesterday has shared of the conversations the whips had with her.

The whips are the people who deal with party discipline.

Apsana Begum told Sky News that she was "shocked" with her treatment.

Ms Begum spoke about the support she had previously received from the party following her own experience of domestic abuse.

She said the "element of supporting me... was actually put into the context of the whipping operation itself".

"And that was shocking and I think unacceptable," she said.

Labour has been approached for comment.

Following a campaign in which only one person stood, Baroness Eluned Morgan has been confirmed as leader of Welsh Labour.

Writing on social media, Sir Keir Starmer said: "Congratulations to Eluned Morgan, Welsh Labour’s newly elected leader.

"Eluned brings a wealth of experience and track-record of delivery — as the first woman to lead Welsh Labour, she is already making history.

"I look forward to working with Eluned to deliver change for Wales."

Baroness Morgan said: "I am truly honoured to become the first woman to lead Welsh Labour and to be put forward as our party's nominee to become the next first minister of Wales.

"At this pivotal time for our country, strength, stability, and unity will be my guiding principles. I want to ensure that everyone in Wales has the opportunity and ability to fulfil their potential.

"Huw Irranca-Davies and I stood proudly as a partnership, and we are delighted to have received the overwhelming support of Welsh Labour MSs and support from across Wales and the wider Labour movement.

"When we pledged unity, we meant it – and that is how we will lead.

"Working with colleagues across the Senedd and standing shoulder to shoulder with Keir Starmer's UK Labour government, my focus will be on improving the things that matter most for everyone in our great country.

"Through my leadership, Wales – and what is best for our country – will always come above all else."

Yesterday, Army head General Sir Roly Walker warned the UK had three years to prepare for war.

He said that, while combat was not "inevitable", Vladimir Putin will come out of the invasion of Ukraine "very, very dangerous".

Speaking today, the prime minister's spokesperson said: "The prime minister completely agrees with the thrust of the head of the Army.

"He's talked previously about the new and dangerous era we live in and that is why we've launched a strategic defence review to assess those dangers, assess those challenges, and ensure we have got the capabilities we need to respond to those challenges as and when they arise."

Read more about General Sir Roly's comments below: 

By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter

Tom Tugendhat has emerged as the leadership contender who is most popular with the public, according to a new Savanta poll shared with Sky News.

The former security minister, who ran for the leadership after Boris Johnson's tenure, has a net favourability of -3, compared with -28 for Priti Patel, the former home secretary who scored the lowest rating with the public.

Mr Tugendhat is also highly regarded among the moderate One Nation group of Tory MPs.

James Cleverly, the former home secretary who declared his intention to run on Tuesday, is just behind Mr Tugendhat with a net favourability of -9.

And Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary and former business secretary who is seen as a frontrunner on the right, scored a rating of -12, while former home secretary Suella Braverman was given a rating of -23 among the public.

The poll comes as nominations for the leadership race open on Wednesday at 7pm, with Rishi Sunak's replacement as Conservative leader announced on 2 November.

Read more below: