Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt have been knocked out of the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party – and next prime minister of the UK.
A total of six candidates made it through the first round of voting, with chair of the backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady revealing the number of MPs who had supported them.
Those who made it through to the next round are:
• Rishi Sunak
• Penny Mordaunt
• Liz Truss
• Tom Tugendhat
• Kemi Badenoch
• Suella Braverman
But Mr Hunt and Mr Zahawi were knocked out of the race after failing to meet the 30-vote threshold.
Politics Hub: Latest reaction from Westminster as field to become next PM narrows
There is still further to go in the contest until the final two candidates are reached, with the second round of voting due to take place on Thursday.
Government tables no-confidence vote in itself after blocking Labour bid
Nadhim Zahawi says he would ‘certainly’ offer Boris Johnson a cabinet role if elected as next Conservative Party leader
Conservative leadership election: Rees-Mogg attacks ‘disloyal’ Sunak and says his decision as chancellor were ‘of the left’
However, it is expected the final stage will be reached by the end of next week at the latest, leaving the pair to carry out hustings over the summer and face a vote from the wider Tory party membership – with a result announced on 5 September.
The leadership contest was triggered after Boris Johnson announced his departure from Downing Street last week.
It followed an avalanche of ministerial resignations over his handling of disgraced MP Chris Pincher, and accusations he had lied about what he knew regarding the inappropriate behaviour of the former deputy chief whip.
Mr Johnson remains in No 10 as a caretaker prime minister while the contest is carried out.
But Labour has been pushing for the PM to go immediately, attempting to call a confidence vote in him and the government – with the potential of triggering a general election.
Instead, the government has called a confidence vote in itself, allowing it to set the wording to make it easier for Tory critics of Mr Johnson to vote in favour.
Sky News is hosting a live TV debate with the contenders vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience.
The debate will take place on Monday 18 July hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley.
If you would like to be a member of the virtual audience and be in with a chance of asking a question, please email [email protected].
