Boris Johnson makes final bid to clear name on Partygate as ballots end today – live

If polls are correct, Liz Truss is all but guaranteed to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.

However, a Conservative MP has claimed that Tory leadership contender Rishi Sunak is probably “neck and neck” with her.

Kevin Hollinrake, a supporter of Sunak, told Sky News: “I’ve seen some of the polls and national polls. I think it’s quite hard for pollsters to determine who is a Conservative member and who is not because there’s not an open database.

“But I know who mine are. I polled my 700 members, 239 of them responded, so about a third of them responded, and Rishi got an eight-point lead.

“And I’ve seen similar kind of polls around different constituencies around the country. So I don’t think he’s cut and dried. I think he’s probably neck and neck.”

Boris Johnson will attempt to clear his name over Partygate by publishing legal advice which suggests parliament’s investigation into lockdown parties at No 10 is unfair.

The legal opinion, written by Lord Pannick, is thought to call into question the terms of reference used by the Commons privileges committee’s investigation.

Sources told The Times that the advice accuses the committee of not drawing a distinction between whether or not the prime minister deliberately misled MPs about Partygate.

As Boris Johnson prepares to leave office, Joe Sommerlad takes a look back at some of his most notorious blunders:

British Chambers of Commerce has forecast that the UK will enter into a recession before the end of 2022.

Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We still believe, currently, that we are going into recession now.She warned businesses will close their doors this winter if they do not get the support they need – saying up to two thirds of pubs may have to shut their doors this winter due to rising costs.

“I think unless there is immediate and urgent support, we will see many businesses close their doors this winter,” she said.

“I think one of the big measures we are asking for…is for Covid-style support to be given by measure of a government emergency energy grant for all SMEs. Now this will be similar to what the government had to do for the Covid business grant schemes.”

The Conservative leadership race has entered its final hours.

Tory party members have until 5pm today to cast their votes for Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak.

Boris Johnson’s replacement will not be announced until Monday. Both he and his successor will then travel to Balmoral – rather than the usual Buckingham Place – to see the Queen.

In his last week in office, Mr Johnson committed £700m towards Sizewell C, a new nuclear power station in Suffolk.

International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has said the UK’s trade deal with Australia is crucial to safeguard the countries’ “shared values”.

On a trip to Australia to promote the trade agreement, the minister said: “Our friendship with Australia is more important than ever.

“Together, we show the world that we will stand up for liberty, that we fight back against tyranny, and we will defend our societies’ shared values.”

The deal is not expected to have a large effect on UK gross domestic product, with official estimates estimating a maximum increase of 0.08 per cent.

The agreement has been criticised over fears that it will adversely affect British farmers, who could be priced out of the market by their Australian peers.

NHS leaders have warned of a “staggering” level of staff vacancies, with one in 10 NHS jobs lying vacant.

This comes after the number of unfilled jobs in the NHS rose to a record 132,000 in June, including 46,828 nursing posts and 10,582 doctor roles.

My colleagues Rebecca Thomas and Sam Lovett report:

A man has said he “thought he was dreaming” after waking up to find Boris Johnson in his flat, surrounded by police officers.

Splinter Sales, who described himself as a hip-hop rapper, told The Independent he woke up to shouts of “police” outside the property in West Norwood, southeast London, on Wednesday morning.

He filmed the moment he opened the door of his bedroom to see the prime minister standing in the hallway as part of a Metropolitan Police raid.

His video, which has gone viral after being posted on TikTok, shows Mr Johnson smiling and asking, “How are you doing?” after the man called out, “Wagwan [what’s going on], Boris?” and burst into laughter.

Outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson was severely criticised on social media for suggesting Britons buy a £20 kettle to save £10 in electricity bills over the next 12 months.

Speaking in Suffolk on Thursday, Mr Johnson said: “If you have an old kettle which takes ages to boil, it may cost you £20 to replace it – but if you get a new one, you’ll save £10 a year every year on your electricity bill.”

The UK is currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis which is set to worsen as energy price caps surpass £3,500 in October.

Twitter users were quick to pick up on the suggestion, with one person writing: “He’s now outright taking the mickey of those drowning in costs, as he comes back home from his luxury traveling around Europe.”

Liz Truss has firmly pledged there will be “no new taxes” if she becomes prime minister next week.

Ms Truss also specifically ruled out a new windfall tax on energy companies which are raking in massive profits as a result of the historic spike in gas prices.

She promised that there will be no French-style energy rationing this winter, when average domestic fuel prices are set to rise to an annual £3,459.

Andrew Woodcock has more.