SEVERAL Dorset MPs have rallied behind Rishi Sunak as he closes in on the Conservative party membership – and Number 10.

After the withdrawal of Boris Johnson, Mr Sunak is in pole position to take over as prime minister following the resignation of Liz Truss last week.

Simon Hoare, Tory MP for North Dorset, was among early backers for the former chancellor.

And after news of Mr Johnson withdrawing from the contest emerged, he said he was hoping for a return to the ‘urgent business of governing’.

“Just leaving Dorset for Westminster and wearing my ‘lucky’ Shamrock,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Here’s hoping that by sunset, (Rishi Sunak) will be our new leader and en route for an audience of The King, then back to No 10 to begin the urgent business of governing.”

Fellow Conservative MP Chris Loder, for West Dorset, also announced his support for Mr Sunak.

He wrote on Saturday: “This week, West Dorset people have made it clear to me that political and economical stability is the most important priority for me as their MP in my decision for the next Conservative leader.

“It is clear to me that the person best placed to do this is Rishi Sunak, and I am very pleased to support him with my vote on Monday.”

The race is now between Mr Sunak and Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, who over the weekend was struggling to reach the target of 100 nominations to progress in the contest.

However, it remains unclear whether she will pick up the necessary votes to progress and take the vote to the party members.

Elsewhere, Mid Dorset and North Poole MP, Michael Tomlinson, is backing Rishi Sunak, as well as Salisbury MP John Glen and Poole representative, Sir Robert Syms.

Sir Christopher Chope, the MP for Christchurch, was previously backing Mr Johnson, and it is unclear where his vote will now go. The same applies for South Dorset MP, Richard Drax.