Now down to five contenders for the crown. I don't think the TV debate did anyone any favours, but Rory Stewart's performance stalled badly. Morning in the office and then off to chat with Iain Duncan Smith. This went on longer than I anticipated, so I missed PMQs, which I learnt later was pretty acrimonious, strange bearing in mind May only has days to do. I also learnt that Ken Clark served a googly by asking the PM not to spend all these millions of pounds that she's threatening to do when she has no right to do so. I concur. At 1500 it was ballot No 3 and again we all filed through CR 14 to vote for our chosen candidate. As you know, I am backing Boris and voted accordingly. I took the opportunity to visit some prospective guide dogs who were on show in both Westminster Hall and the Jubilee room. As you'd expect, and being a dog lover myself, the heart melts when you see and stroke these wonderful animals. The dogs I saw were all potential guide dogs and currently being looked after by volunteers. These volunteers then have to hand the dogs back to the charity at about 18 months to be trained. Some animals are not suited and are found good homes as pets. Of course, all eyes and ears were on the ballot result announced at just after 1800. The result was as follows: Boris Johnson, 143; Sajid Javid, 38; Rory Stewart, 27; Jeremy Hunt, 54; and Michael Gove, 51. This meant that Rory Stewart was knocked out, the other four going on to the final two ballots tomorrow. Rory did not take this result well. His tweet had an edge to it, which I thought was a pity. He tried his best and did far better than many thought he would. So, well done, Rory, but now move on and get behind whoever wins. It's perhaps worth noting that the BBC is being slated, and quite rightly, for its bias coverage of the TV hustings. They clearly had not checked the backgrounds of some of those asking questions, including an Imam, who has subsequently been suspended from his post as a deputy head. The BBC's coverage of this leadership race and Brexit has been a disgrace, biased and thoroughly unprofessional. I worked for the BBC for nearly 10 years and it saddens me to have to say this. The problem with the BBC is that it is incestuous, with promotions and staffing all done from within, or nearly all. It desperately needs fresh blood and a forensic examination of the way the budget is spent, not least these vast salaries to presenters and the like.