The last four candidates in the Conservative leadership contest will face another vote later as the party decides who will replace Boris Johnson on Downing Street.
Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt, Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch went to the polls on Monday to continue in the race, while Tom Tugendhat was knocked out.
But as future leaders compete for the support of their fellow Conservative MPs, their outgoing leader will hold his last cabinet meeting at number 10.
Political center: Sunak at the helm as the field narrows in the Conservative leadership race
Johnson is expected to discuss the heat wave with his ministers, after facing criticism for missing three COBRA emergency meetings on the issue in recent days, as well as commemorating the anniversary of the exit of England from the COVID measures.
He is expected to say, “A year after a successful reopening, we can reflect on what our brilliant NHS and our country have achieved, and we should be proud of how far we have come.
“Without our excellent scientists and doctors, and everyone who showed up for their vaccine, we would have had a longer, bumpier road.”
Johnson will host the cabinet meeting after his administration survived a no-confidence motion, which the government filed against itself after rejecting a Labor attempt to do so.
As the Prime Minister presides over his last cabinet meeting, Nadhim Zahawi will deliver his first speech as chancellor in the city. It is not clear what policy he is able to establish, given the uncertainty surrounding his future at work.
Image: Boris Johnson will chair his last cabinet meeting scheduled today
The remaining candidates to replace the prime minister were due to take part in a Sky News debate this evening, but it was canceled after Mr Sunak and Mrs Truss refused to take part.
They have no choice but to face the vote, however, which will see the hopeful leadership with the fewest votes removed from the contest.
Former Chancellor Sunak continued to lead the group last night with 115 votes in the third round, while Mordaunt remained in second place with 82 votes.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Truss, obtained the support of 71 deputies, Mrs. Badenoch had the support of 58 and Mr. Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, received only 31 votes.
Candidates will now hope to beat the Tugendhat team and increase their numbers in the fourth round of voting, with a result expected at 3pm, eliminating another candidate from the field.
The last three will face another vote on Wednesday, with the final two confirmed at the end of the day.
The pair will conduct searches over the summer ahead of a vote by the party’s broader members, and the final result is expected to be announced on September 5th.