Six of the eight contenders in the Conservative party leadership race made it through the first round of voting on Wednesday as MPs look to whittle down the early field in the election.
The MPs who made it over the first hurdle were Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak, trade secretary Penny Mordaunt, former minister Kemi Badenoch, Attorney General Suella Braverman, and former army officer Tom Tugendhat.
Two candidates were eliminated with fewer than 30 votes. Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, who fought Boris Johnson for the top job in 2019, winning a third of the party membership vote, half that of his rival, and Nadhim Zahawi, who was made chancellor last week but also fell at the first hurdle on Wednesday.
Mr Sunak topped the poll with 88 supporters ahead of second-placed Penny Mordaunt with 67 votes. Liz Truss was third with 50.
The path to Ms Mordaunt becoming the next prime minister opened up on Wednesday night as a wave of MPs voted for her in the first ballot to be the next Conservative leader.
The trade minister surged, coming second behind Mr Sunak, who failed to dominate the contest in the manner he had wished.
There will now be at least one round of voting on Thursday, possibly two, with any candidate coming last or failing to get 30 votes knocked out.
It is expected that a substantial amount of horse-trading will take place on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with those still in the race potentially pledging their caucus to the person they see as the eventual winner.
“There’s no runaway leader in all of this,” Mr Zahawi’s campaign manager Jonathan Gullis, MP, told the media after the 1922 Committee announced the results in parliament. “The right [wing] of the Conservative Party needs to figure out who they want to unite behind. They are all good choices.”
The inference was that Mr Sunak, the original frontrunner, had failed to convince enough MPs that he is the right man for the top job. Yet he still appears on course to be one of the last two candidates, and on Wednesday was tipped to become the new Tory leader by a renowned election expert.
Despite the backing, Mr Sunak remains vulnerable to a wider audience on several counts: his proximity to Boris Johnson by remaining in his post deep into the scandals that unseated the prime minister; his fine for rule-breaking during lockdown by attending Downing Street parties; and issues over his wife Akshata Murty's taxation status, as well his retention of an American green card.
By contrast, Ms Mordaunt, 49, was not in Mr Johnson’s cabinet, is an original Brexiteer.
Penny Mordaunt - in pictures
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British Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt is one of the candidates in the race to replace Boris Johnson as British Prime Minister. AFP -
During her brief tenure as defence secretary, Ms Mordaunt arrives with John Michael Mulvaney for a Buckingham Palace banquet also attended by then-US president Donald Trump. Getty Images -
Prince Charles meets Penny Mordaunt and MP Tobias Ellwood at a reception at St James's Palace, London, in 2019. Getty Images -
Ms Mordaunt leaves a service at Westminster Abbey, London, in 2019, shortly after her appointment as UK defence secretary. Getty Images -
Ms Mordaunt as secretary of state for international development at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham in 2018. Getty Images -
Leaving No 10 Downing Street after being appointed secretary of state for international development in November 2017. Getty Images -
Ms Mordaunt takes part in a BuzzFeed News and Facebook live EU referendum debate in London in 2016, when she was minister of state for the armed forces. Getty Images -
As part of Brexit referendum campaigning, Ms Mordaunt sits behind the wheel of the 'Vote Leave' battle bus as it stops in Portsmouth in May 2016. Getty Images -
She visits RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland in 2015. Getty Images -
Ms Mordaunt with her Labrador cross Penny Lane, during the Westminster Dog of The Year competition in 2012. Getty Images
Contenders began to drop out ahead of the nomination, including ex-chancellor Sajid Javid, transport secretary Grant Shapps, and the relatively unknown Rehman Chishti, after they failed to reach the required number of endorsements.
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,
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.
After the ballot, Ms Truss put out a plea to unite the right of the party in subsequent voting from Thursday that will eliminate the least popular candidate until two are left.
"Now is the time for colleagues to unite behind the candidate who will cut taxes, deliver the real economic change we need from day one, and ensure Putin loses in Ukraine," a spokeswoman for the foreign secretary said.
Ms Mordaunt enjoys strong leads in the polls of the 200,000 Conservative Party members who will vote on the final two remaining candidates after MPs finishing balloting, possibly early next week or even by Friday.
This has seen her chances rise considerably to be the favourite to become Britain’s prime minister on September 5 and possibly earlier if a deal is struck with the second place candidate.
UK Conservatives on the leadership campaign trail - in pictures
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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
