The nominations for the Tory leadership have closed. Here is who will be standing to become the next leader of the party and prime minister:

  • Theresa May
  • Michael Gove
  • Andrea Leadsom
  • Stephen Crabb
  • Dr Liam Fox

That makes three Brexiteers and two Remain candidates Theresa May and Stephen Crabb.

Despite most of our Dorset and New Forest MPs backing the Leave campaign they seem to be in some disagreement over who should be the next leader of the Tory Party.

Here’s who’s backing who as of 12noon:

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare is backing leadership hopeful Stephen Crabb.

“I think [Mr Crabb] has the right skills, the right outlook and the right experiences and values,” he said.

“With no slight meant whatsoever to the prime minister, I think it would send out a very bad message about the Conservative party if we ended up with another old Etonian [as PM].”

Mr Crabb was raised on a Welsh council estate by a single mum and worked as a builder to put himself through university after attending the local comprehensive, Mr Hoare said.

“He has a commitment to social justice and meritocracy,” he added.

Conor Burns MP for Bournemouth West said he would be supporting Mr Gove.

He had been part of Mr Johnson’s campaign team until the former London mayor pulled out yesterday lunchtime.

Mr Burns described events at ongoing events at Westminster as “surreal.” He said: “I texted Michael at the weekend to tell I would wholeheartedly back him if he stood but at that point he was not going to.”

But he added: “Theresa May gave an impressive and authoritative performance at her campaign launch and if she has a strong lead among the parliamentary party, I feel there are many of us who would wish to see the process concluded speedily so we can get on with the important work ahead.”

Michael Tomlinson MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole is backing Andrea Leadsom.

He said: “She’s got a clear plan, strong leadership qualities and will make a fantastic prime minister.

“I think she will be the best leader and the best person to negotiate our exit from the EU.

“Firstly Andrea knows Europe, she has a plan for Brexit and a head for economic policy. She is also someone who fights for social justice and I believe will carry on David Cameron’s life chances programme.

“To be honest despite the fact I am backing Andrea I think we have a great selection of candidates and it shows that there’s great strength in the Conservative Party.”

Mr Tomlinson also said he didn’t think there should be an early General Election.

“The Conservative Party was elected on a manifesto for a five-year term – and that manifesto included the EU referendum which we have now had,” he added.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to trigger an immediate General Election and that we should instead wait until 2020.”

Chris Chope MP for Christchurch said he would be backing a Brexiteer although he had not made up his mind which one and would not tell us yet if he had.

Speaking to the Echo he said he would be waiting for the nominations to close before making a decision. He added: “I’m not going to be announcing anything at the moment. Once I have chosen who to back I will then make a decision about when I am going to share it with the world.”

Tobias Ellwood MP for Bournemouth East has announced he is backing Theresa May in the leadership race.

He said: “I believe she is the respected, experienced and highly competent candidate that can unify the party and negotiate a worthy British deal with the EU.”

Richard Drax MP for South Dorset said he has not yet decided which candidate he is backing.

Speaking to the Echo he said: “So far none of the candidates have given me the unequivocal assurances that they will carry through the EU referendum decision to the letter.

“This includes getting a UK trade deal – not a Norwegian-lite or Canadian-lite trade deal.

“We must not let the people down and we need a prime minister who will ensure what they voted for happens.

“There are some hustings events taking place on Monday and I know the candidates are doing interviews with the back benchers so I will be putting my questions to them at that point.”

However Mr Drax did say he would certainly be backing a Brexit candidate.

“I cannot see how a Remain candidate can be the next prime minister after all we have been through,” he added.

When asked whether or not there should be an early General Election called once the new leader takes over Mr Drax said that was a question for the new prime minister.

“On the one hand we were given a mandate until 2020 thanks to the Fixed-Term Parliament Act,” he said.

“We also now have to negotiate our way out of the EU which will take up a lot of time and effort.

“However the new leader won’t necessarily have the backing of the people per se therefore would it be proper and right for them to carry on as prime minister without another election?

“EU negotiations might take precedence and we could be adding more chaos to the situation with a general election.”

Robert Syms MP for Poole said he had not made a decision on who he was backing because Boris Johnson’s decision to pull out of the race had “thrown everything up in the air”.

He said: “I’m a little shocked but a friend of mine did say to me yesterday that front runners always blow themselves up.

“I think Boris was in trouble after Gove came out this morning to announce he was running and also the last part of his statement was quite damning of Boris.

“It’s definitely opened up the leadership race and made it more interesting. I still haven’t decided who I’m backing yet.

 “Currently Theresa May is the favourite but I would like to hear more from Michael Gove and some of the other candidates before making a decision.”

Mr Syms also said he didn’t think there was any need to call an early General Election after the new prime minister takes over at the end of October.

“We do not have a Presidential system we have a Parliamentary system. The electorate votes for an MP in their constituency they don’t vote for the prime minister so a new leader shouldn’t affect how things are run.

“Even if everyone in the Conservative Party wanted to call an early election we wouldn’t be able to without support from Labour because of the Fixed-Term Parliament Act.

“And I don’t think anyone in the Labour Party wants there to be a general election anytime soon.

“If we did have an election we would crucify Labour and end up with no opposition and I don’t think the public would thank us for it. In order for our democracy to work we need an opposition party.”

Desmond Swayne MP for New Forest West has told the Echo it is “too soon to tell” who he will be backing.