Stephen Crabb withdraws from Tory leadership race

The Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb says there's only one candidate in the Conservative Leadership race.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP is now supporting the front-runner of the contest, Theresa May.

Mr Crabb also said there needs to be a new Tory leader as quick as possible and urges other candidates to listen to party members around the country.

Stephen Crabb has dropped out of the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party and has backed front-runner Theresa May.

• Crabb's votes to determine who faces May in Tory membership vote

This follows the elimination of Dr Liam Fox from the race for 10 Downing Street, who came last in the first round of voting by Conservative MPs with 16 votes.

Stephen Crabb was second last, with 34. Theresa May, Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom remain in the battle.

Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb says he will unite the Conservative party and the United Kingdom as he campaigns to become the next Tory leader.

The Pembrokeshire MP also told ITV News if he becomes Britain's next Prime Minister then Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones would be offered a role in the UK's Brexit negotiations.

Mr Crabb also defended himself against accusations that he is anti gay marriage.

Conservative AM Suzy Davies has declared her support for Stephen Crabb becoming their party's next leader -and Britain's next Prime Minister. She says she bases her backing for the Preseli Pembrokeshire MP on his record as Welsh Secretary and his ability to connect with people.

Former Shadow Welsh Secretary Nia Griffith has claimed that if the Conservatives elect Stephen Crabb as their next leader, they'll be "turning the clock back". Mr Crabb was promoted earlier this year from Welsh Secretary to Work and Pensions Secretary but Ms Griffith condemned his opposition to equal marriage for gay people and his department's treatment of people with disabilities.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has secured the public backing of 20 Conservative MPs so far in his bid to become the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister. Only the front-runner, Boris Johnson, has more with support from 33 MPs.

Two of Mr Crabb's supporters are Welsh MPs -his fellow cabinet minister Alun Cairns and the Cardiff North MP Craig Williams. Mr Williams told our Political Editor Adrian Masters why he'd decided to be one of the first to declare for Stephen Crabb.

Stephen Crabb said the UK faces challenges ahead "the like of which we have never seen before", as he formally launched his bid to become the next leader of the Conservative party.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said there could be no "stepping back" from the referendum result and ruled out a second ballot.

"Today we face a set of challenges the like of which we have never seen in Britain, a set of problems of almost mind-boggling complexity," he said.

"There is no playbook available that would explain all the manoeuvres and steps that need to be taken to get through this. There is no manual waiting on anyone's shelf to be dusted down that provides instructions on the way forward.

"There is certainly no candidate in this race who can stand here today and provide all the answers."