Britain's next Prime Minister will be announced on Tuesday 23 July, Tory chiefs have confirmed after a six-week battle to replace Theresa May.

The successful candidates first had to convince their fellow Tory MPs to back them in a series of votes.

Now the final two, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, have to secure the backing of 160,000 party members as they take their pitch to local groups across the country.

Party chiefs set out the timetable for how the race will play out, including 16 local hustings and a digital hustings.

Below is when and how the Tory leadership race plays out.

You can also read our guide to the candidates, where they stand on Brexit, and their policies on everything else.

When will the next Prime Minister be announced?

The next Prime Minister is announced on Tuesday 23 July.

Postal ballots go out to 160,000 Conservative Party members between July 6 and July 8.

Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 22 July.

The winner of the contest is then announced on Tuesday 23 July, Tory chiefs have confirmed.

However, Theresa May is expected to carry on as Prime Minister for 24 hours longer – and host a final PMQs before handing her resignation to the Queen on Wednesday 24 July.

The new Prime Minister would then be installed almost immediately on Wednesday 24 July after going themselves to see the Queen.

That is one day before Parliament leaves for its summer break on Thursday 25 July.

That leaves only a short window for Labour to table an immediate no confidence vote in the government – or have to wait until at least September.

TV debate dates

Broadcasters arranged a string of TV debates. Dates include:

• Sun 16 June: Channel 4
• Tue 18 June: BBC
• Mon 1 July: Sky News
• Tue 9 July: ITV
• TBC: Other BBC debates

Hustings dates

Hustings are taking place in every single region of the UK and are open to the press.

• Sat 22 June, afternoon: West Midlands
• Wed 26 June: Digital hustings on Facebook
• Thu 27 June, evening: South (Central)
• Fri 28 June, morning: South West
• Sat 29 June, afternoon: Lakes and Borders
• Sat 29 June, evening: North West
• Thu 4 July, evening: Yorkshire & Humber
• Fri 5 July, morning: North East
• Fri 5 July, evening: Scotland
• Sat 6 July, morning: East Midlands
• Sat 6 July, evening: Wales
• Thu 11 July, evening: South East
• Fri 12 July, evening: Gloucestershire
• Sat 13 July, morning: East Anglia
• Sat 13 July, afternoon: Eastern
• Wed 17 July, evening: London

Tory leadership election results

FIFTH ROUND (two candidates with most support go to membership vote)

• Boris Johnson –  160
• Jeremy Hunt – 77
• Michael Gove – 75 (KNOCKED OUT)

FOURTH ROUND (candidate with lowest support knocked out)

• Boris Johnson – 157
• Michael Gove – 61
• Jeremy Hunt – 59
• Sajid Javid – 34 (KNOCKED OUT)

THIRD ROUND (candidate with lowest support knocked out)

• Boris Johnson – 143
• Jeremy Hunt – 54
• Michael Gove – 51
• Sajid Javid –  38
• Rory Stewart – 27 (KNOCKED OUT)

SECOND ROUND (33 MPs to pass)

• Boris Johnson –  126
• Jeremy Hunt – 46
• Michael Gove – 41
• Rory Stewart – 37
• Sajid Javid – 33
• Dominic Raab – 30 (KNOCKED OUT)

FIRST ROUND (17 MPs to pass)

• Boris Johnson – 114
• Jeremy Hunt – 43
• Michael Gove – 37
• Dominic Raab – 27
• Sajid Javid – 23
• Matt Hancock – 20 (WITHDREW)
• Rory Stewart – 19 
• Andrea Leadsom – 11 (KNOCKED OUT)
• Mark Harper – 10 (KNOCKED OUT)
• Esther McVey – 9 (KNOCKED OUT)

Full Tory leadership contest timetable

Friday 7 June: Theresa May resigns

Theresa May hands in her resignation as Conservative Party leader on June 7, a day after commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

It is announced in an exchange of letters with the chiefs of the backbench 1922 Committee.

But she remains Prime Minister – a 'lame duck' – until the leadership contest to find her successor is over.

She also remains acting Tory leader because otherwise, the Conservative Party has to register a new leader with the Electoral Commission.

She's focusing on securing her legacy with some final acts, but in reality she can't get anything controversial through Parliament as Tory discipline has collapsed.

Monday 10 June: Nominations close

Nominations open at 10am and close at 5pm on Monday 10 June.

MPs must submit their names with a proposer, seconder and six more MP backers to the Tories' backbench 1922 Committee.

The race is overseen by 1922 Committee acting co-chairs Dame Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker after chairman Sir Graham Brady quit to mull a leadership bid himself.

10 MPs succeed in the close of nominations. Sam Gyimah does not make the cut.

Tuesday 11 June: First hustings with Tory MPs

The 1922 Committee hosts a hustings at 3-7pm and continued at 4-6pm the next day with all candidates.

The press are not allowed inside because, in the words of 1922 chief Charles Walker, MPs might be "frightened" of speaking their mind.

Thursday 13 June: First ballot of Tory MPs

Tory MPs hold their first ballot to whittle out the least popular candidate between 10am and noon. 

Any candidates who get 16 or fewer Tory MPs backing them – 5% of the Parliamentary party – are eliminated. These are Esther McVey, Andrea Leadsom and Mark Harper.

The vote takes place in Parliament – in oak-panelled committee room 14 – and the losers are announced at about 1pm in person. 

MPs have to show their parliamentary passes, be ticked off a list, and may have their phones confiscated while they vote in order to stop cheating and taking photos of ballot papers.

They have to enter through one door and leave through another, voting in an election-style booth inside Committee Room 14.

Sunday 16 June: First TV debate

Channel 4 holds a 90-minute debate at 6.30pm between the remaining candidates.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy moderates the debate in front of a live studio audience. 

But it is boycotted by chicken Boris Johnson.

Monday 17 June: Second hustings of Tory MPs

Tory MPs hold their second hustings, again in Committee Room 14 from 3pm to 7pm. It's also in secret with not even Tory peers allowed in.

Tuesday 18 June: Second ballot of Tory MPs

Tory MPs file back into a stuffy room in Parliament to whittle out the least popular candidate still on the ballot.

This time, anyone with 32 or fewer Tory MPs backing them (10% of the party) is automatically eliminated too.

Just one candidate, Dominic Raab, is eliminated.

Tuesday 18 June: Second TV debate

The BBC holds its Next Prime Minister show – the first of several TV events – at 8pm.

It is moderated by Newsnight host Emily Maitlis and air two hours after the second ballot – with Boris Johnson finally taking part.

Mr Johnson, Michael Gove, Rory Stewart, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid clash over tax and Brexit, even criticising their own policies.

Boris Johnson waters down policies on tax cuts, blocking Heathrow and ensuring Brexit on time.

Jeremy Hunt admits social care cuts when he was Health Secretary went too far.

And rival Rory Stewart bizarrely takes off his tie mid-debate.

Amid the noisy debate presenter Emily Maitlis struggled to make herself heard as the five tried to shout each other down during the rowdy BBC show.

19 June – 20 June: More MP ballots

Further ballots on 19 June and 20 June knock out one candidate each time until there are just two remaining.

Ballot 3 is 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday. Rory Stewart is knocked out.

Ballot 4 is 10am to noon on Thursday. Sajid Javid is knocked out.

Ballot 5 is 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Thursday. Michael Gove is knocked out by just two votes amid claims Boris Johnson's team allowed 'vote-lending' to Jeremy Hunt.

Friday 21 June: Boris Johnson domestic row

The race explodes as police are called to the home Boris Johnson shares with girlfriend Carrie Symonds amid a domestic row.

He surfaces on Saturday but refuses to answer questions about the incident. Headlines continue for days.

22 June – 12 July: Hustings by members

The Tories' 160,000 members spend a month deciding who will lead their party – and thus be Prime Minister.

Members take part in a postal ballot, with a nationwide tour and several hustings by the candidates expected. There is no electronic voting.

DATES TBC: BBC TV debates

The BBC announced plans for several debates.

The final two candidates would be invited to put their cases to a studio audience in a special edition of BBC Question Time, hosted by Fiona Bruce.

The same two would also be each invited to a one-on-one interview with Rottweiler interviewer Andrew Neil. Two separate shows would be broadcast, one for each candidate.

However, allies of Boris Johnson appeared reluctant to take part in a wider debate before the field is knocked down to two people.

Monday 1 July? Sky TV debate

Sky News was organising a live head-to-head debate between the final two candidates, hosted by Kay Burley.

It would take place in front of a live studio audience of Conservative voters, who decide the contest.

But it was postponed from June 25 after Boris Johnson failed to take part.

Tuesday 9 July: ITV TV debate

Julie Etchingham is expected to host a debate ITV debate on 9 July.

It would be a head to head between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt and it's thought both have agreed in principle.

An ITV spokesperson said: "ITV will provide coverage across both TV and online, with ITV News’ journalists scrutinising the candidates for Conservative leader, getting answers to the questions that matter.

"Our plans will include both a head to head debate and interviews, as well as trusted impartial analysis across our ITV news bulletins. Further details of our plans will be announced in due course."

Tuesday 23 July: Next Prime Minister confirmed

The next Prime Minister was expected to be announced in the week of Monday 22 July.

Once the winner is confirmed by the Conservative Party, the process of being installed in 10 Downing Street would happen quickly.

All it takes is for Theresa May to end her "lame duck" term by visiting the Queen and formally telling the Monarch she is handing in her resignation.

Minutes later, her successor could be expected to be called to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen would ask him or her to form a government.

What next? Cabinet reshuffle, Brexit plans – and a possible general election

The next Prime Minister can be expected to carry out a major Cabinet reshuffle after years of resignations under Theresa May.

Many of those who quit in protest at her Brexit deal can be expected to make a comeback, especially if a Brexiteer ally wins power.

This would be the first step towards dramatically re-shaping the UK's Brexit plan.

Expect the next PM to seize the opportunity of August – a quiet time with MPs and the EU on holiday – to draw up new plans behind closed doors and prepare for fresh clashes with Brussels.

Parliament returns in the first week of September, at which point the new PM would hold their first PMQs .

This would be the ideal moment to begin a legal process towards either making a drastically different Brexit deal or crashing out with no deal at all.

The next PM makes their first address to the Conservative Party Conference on October 2, just 29 days before the Halloween deadline for leaving the EU.

But there's a catch.

Deadlock in Parliament could force the next Prime Minister to call a general election.

Or worse, they could have one thrust upon them through a vote of no confidence in HM Government.

Pro-EU Tories have warned 12 of their MPs are willing to back a no confidence vote to stop No Deal. That would be enough to trigger a general election just weeks into the new Prime Minister's term.

Labour could even theoretically hold a no-confidence vote on the new PM's first full day in office, Thursday 25 July.

But it'll have to be a snap decision – as if they don't force a vote then, it'll have to wait until Parliament's summer holiday is over in September.

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