The race for leadership of the Conservative Party narrowed to eight candidates late on Tuesday, with Rishi Sunak leading in the number of endorsements.
The contenders required 20 nominations from fellow MPs to reach the first round of voting, with former health secretary Sajid Javid withdrawing with minutes before the 6pm deadline.
In addition to Mr Sunak, the MPs who made it through the first hurdle were Foreign Secretary Liz Truss , Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi , former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, former minister Kemi Badenoch, Solicitor General Suella Braverman and former army officer Tom Tugendhat .
The Iraqi-born chancellor Mr Zahawi tweeted after the announcement that he was “delighted to be nominated by my colleagues to stand for the leadership of our party and the country”.
He added: “For the country that has given me so much, I am deeply honoured. I am British by choice, but I am #conservativebyconviction. I look forward to tomorrow’s ballot.”
Contenders began to drop out throughout the day, including Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, after they failed to reach the required number of endorsements. Mr Shapps was joined by the relatively unknown but respected Foreign Office minister Rehman Chishti.
Political observers noted that Mr Javid, whose resignation last week ultimately triggered Boris Johnson’s downfall, was victim of the adage that “he who wields the knife does not get the crown”.
Mr Shapps was among a number of ministers who pledged their support to Mr Sunak, who now appears on course to be one of the last two candidates.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee that sets Conservative Party rules, announced the candidates in alphabetical order in the same committee room where, on June 6, Mr Johnson faced a vote of confidence that eventually led to his resignation last week .
Candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings at Wembley Arena, London. This was the final hustings attended by Tory Party members who will vote for the new leader and next prime minister. EPA
Liz Truss addresses Conservative Party members at Wembley Arena. AP
Mr Sunak puts forward his case to be leader while speaking at Wembley Arena. Bloomberg
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy in Southampton, while on the campaign trail. Reuters
Ms Truss speaks to staff at Condimentum Ltd at the Food Enterprise Park in Norwich. Getty Images
A Rishi Sunak supporter at a hustings event in Norfolk. PA
Mr Sunak greets people at a leadership hustings in Manchester. Bloomberg
Ms Truss poses for a selfie with a supporter as she arrives for the event in Manchester. Getty
Rishi Sunak looks through the sights of an anti-tank missile launcher, supplied to Ukraine, during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP
Liz Truss at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event in Belfast. Getty
Liz Truss meets supporters before a hustings in Perth, Scotland. Getty
Rishi Sunak speaks during a campaign visit to Cluny Castle in Inverurie, Scotland. Getty
Police hold back protesters outside Perth Concert Hall, Scotland, where Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were speaking. PA
A mural showing the two leadership contestants appears on a wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP
Rishi Sunak during a visit to St John's Wood Synagogue, north London. PA
Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings in Cheltenham. EPA
Rishi Sunak during a hustings event in Cheltenham. Reuters
Liz Truss speaks to scientists during a campaign visit to a life sciences laboratory at Alderley Park in Manchester. PA
Rishi Sunak during a campaign hustings in Darlington, England. Bloomberg
Liz Truss meets party members before she speaks at the Darlington campaign hustings. Getty
Rishi Sunak arrives for the Darlington hustings. Getty
Liz Truss plays pool during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters
Rishi Sunak looks at a book with Teddy Openshaw, 4, as his father, Henry, looks on after a Conservative leadership campaign event in Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England. Getty
Liz Truss plays table tennis with former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters
Liz Truss with supporters at a campaign event in Solihull, England. Reuters
Rishi Sunak attends a campaign event held by his party in Bexhill, England. Reuters
A protester is removed as Ms Truss speaks during the Conservative Party leadership hustings in Eastbourne. Bloomberg
Mr Sunak speaks at an event in Edinburgh. PA
Ms Truss leaves the hall in Exeter, south-west England, after her speech to a Conservative Party membership hustings. Getty
Mr Sunak speaks at the University of Exeter in south-west England. AP
A supporter of Ms Truss at a Conservative Party hustings in Exeter, south-west England. Getty
Ms Truss at a hustings event at the Pavilion conference centre at Elland Road in Leeds. PA
Mr Sunak in Salisbury watching a screening of the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final between England and Germany at Wembley stadium. England won 2-1 in extra time. PA
Ms Truss before the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final at Wembley stadium in London. AFP
Mr Sunak meets Tory members at Fontwell Park Racecourse. Reuters
Ms Truss at an event in Dereham, Norfolk. AFP
Mr Sunak in Ropley, near Winchester, Hampshire. PA
Ms Truss speaks as Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat looks on at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event at Biggin Hill Airport. Getty
Ms Truss on the campaign trail in Woodford Green, on the outskirts of London. Reuters
Mr Sunak at a Conservative Party hustings event in Leeds. AFP
Ms Truss speaks at the hustings event in Leeds. AFP
Sunak and Truss-themed souvenirs at a stand during the Leeds hustings event. Reuters
Ms Truss, and her mother, Patricia, arrive for the hustings event. Getty
Ms Truss poses with supporters in Morley, England. Getty
Mr Sunak delivers a speech during a campaign event in Newmarket. AFP
Ms Truss and Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, during a visit to a broadband interchange company in Leeds. PA
Mr Sunak answers questions as he takes part in the hustings in Leeds. AFP
Ms Truss speaks at an event at a private house with members of the Conservative Party in Woodford Green. PA
Ms Truss and Mr Sunak pose for a picture before a BBC leadership debate at Victoria Hall in Hanley. Getty
Ms Truss addresses Mr Sunak during the televised debate. Getty
Mr Sunak, with daughters Krishna and Anushka, and wife Akshata Murthy, during a visit to Vaculug tyre specialists at Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham. PA
Ms Truss speaks to people while campaigning in Marden. Getty
Ms Truss celebrates after being named, along with Mr Sunak, one of the final two candidates in the race to become the UK's next prime minister. PA
Mr Sunak outside his campaign office in central London. EPA
Ms Truss outside Downing Street in London. Reuters
Rishi Sunak meets Conservative Party members and activists, in Teesport, Redcar. Reuters
Conservative leadership candidates Mr Sunak, Ms Truss, Kemi Badenoch, presenter Julie Etchingham, Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt during 'Britain's Next Prime Minister: The ITV Debate' in London. EPA
Ms Badenoch arrives at Here East studios in Stratford, east London, before a live television debate. PA
Mr Sunak arrives at a London event to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister. Reuters
Mr Tugendhat appears on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA
Ms Badenoch, Ms Mordaunt, Mr Sunak, Ms Truss and Mr Tugendhat before the live television debate. PA
Ms Mordaunt arrives for the launch of her Conservative leadership campaign at the Cinnamon Club in Westminster. PA
Ms Truss speaks at the launch event for her campaign to become the next leader of the Tory Party and Britain's prime minister, in London. EPA
Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi, one of the candidates who has been knocked out of the race, giving a speech at the Churchill War Rooms. PA
Former leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA
Sajid Javid attending the launch of his campaign to be Conservative Party leader and prime minister, at the Cinnamon Club in London. He has since been knocked out of the contest. PA
Rehman Chishti is interviewed after announcing his bid to become the next prime minister. Mr Chishti is no longer in
the race. Getty
Mr Tugendhat speaking at the launch of his campaign. PA
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith arrive for the Truss campaign launch event. Getty
Former leadership candidate Attorney General Suella Braverman at the Churchill War Rooms in central London. PA
Supporters of Mr Sunak wait for his arrival ahead of the campaign launch. Bloomberg
Mr Tugendhat makes a speech at the launch of his campaign. PA
Mr Javid mops his brow while launching his campaign. Getty
Ms Truss leaves for work after her announcement that she would be running for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Getty
Sir Graham stated the first ballot would be on Wednesday between 1.30 and 3.30pm BST, with the result announced shortly afterwards.
There was also some reported underhanded dealings, with suggestions that Mr Hunt was given votes by Mr Sunak’s many MP supporters to ensure he was in the race, as the team know he would certainly be beaten in the final pairing.
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In the latest polling of Conservative members, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss came out on top.
An Opinium survey showed that 28 per cent had chosen Mr Sunak, 20 per cent had chosen Ms Truss and with Ms Mordant favoured by 14 per cent.
The final pair will face six weeks of hustings across the county, where they will be questioned by Conservative Associations. The 200,000 Conservative Party members will then vote by postal ballot on who they want to become their leader and hence prime minister.
The person who eventually replaces Mr Johnson will be announced on September 5 , becoming the fourth British prime minister in six years.
Updated: July 12, 2022, 5:45 PM