It comes after Rishi Sunak came out on top in yesterday’s Tory MP poll – with Penny Mordaunt second and Liz Truss third. Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat are still in, but Suella Braverman has been knocked out. The leadership rivals will go head-to-head in a live show on Channel 4 later, with another on Sunday. And Sky News will host a debate on Tuesday night at 8pm – after more candidates have been ruled out through further rounds of voting in Westminster. The final two leadership contenders will emerge by the end of next week and then face a summer of upheavals – with Conservative Party members having the chance to decide who will be the next prime minister. The winner will be announced on September 5th. Here’s a look at the results of yesterday’s vote among Tory MPs – including how many supporters each candidate had: Image: 2nd round results Braverman supports Truss Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is hoping to attract additional support from the Tory right wing after the removal of Attorney General Suella Braverman. And last night, Ms Truss won her support – with Ms Braverman saying she would be “the strong keeper of the Brexit promises”. Former Brexit secretary Lord Frost also called on Ms Badenoch to stand aside for the foreign secretary, calling for “unity among the free negotiators”. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who fell in the first round of voting, pledged his support for Mr Sunak. But Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who was also kicked out in the first round, has yet to nail his colors to any mast. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:52 The Tory candidates are down to five Candidates thank their supporters Reacting to getting the most votes for a second time, Mr Sunack said he was “incredibly grateful” for the support of Tory MPs. He tweeted: “I am ready to give everything I have in service to our nation. Together we can restore trust, rebuild our economy and bring the country back together.” Meanwhile, Mrs Truss’s leadership campaign team said: “Now is the time for MPs to unite behind the candidate who will cut taxes, deliver the real economic change we need, continue to deliver the benefits of Brexit and will ensure that Putin loses in Ukraine.” Ms Mordaunt posted another thank you video to her supporters on Twitter, saying: “Together we will make a real difference.” And Ms Badenoch said she was “delighted that a growing number of my colleagues believe in my vision for a return to honest politics and conservative principles”. Mr Tugendhat insisted he would not quit the contest despite losing five votes from the first round, writing on Twitter: “I have never turned down a challenge because the odds were against me. I don’t intend to start now.” Image: Suella Braverman was the last to be eliminated from the leadership competition Labor is calling for a general election Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said a general election was needed to ensure “fundamental change”. “I don’t think the answer to the stagnation of the last 12 years is to change the candidate or the leader of the Tory Party,” he told reporters. The leadership contest began after Boris Johnson resigned last Thursday. His announcement followed an avalanche of ministers resigning over the handling of disgraced MP Chris Pincher and allegations he had lied about what he knew about the former deputy chief whip’s misconduct. Mr Johnson remains at number 10 as caretaker prime minister for the duration of the contest. The Labor Party is pushing for the prime minister’s immediate resignation, trying to seek a vote of confidence in him and the government. Instead, the government called for a confidence vote on its own, allowing it to set the wording to make it easier for Mr Johnson’s Tory critics to vote in favour. Sky News is hosting a live televised debate with the candidates 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 Tuesday 19 July at 20.00. If you would like to join the virtual audience and have the chance to ask a question, please email [email protected]
