Tom Tugendhat knocked out of Tory leadership race - with new frontrunner

Tom Tugendhat has been knocked out of the Tory leadership race after receiving the least votes from MPs.

It narrows the field down to three, with James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick still in the running to replace Rishi Sunak.

Mr Cleverly overtook Mr Jenrick to come out on top with 39 of his colleagues backing him in today's vote.

Mr Jenrick followed with 31 votes, with 30 for Ms Badenoch and 20 for Mr Tugendhat.

Follow reaction to the Tory leadership race

A further vote by MPs on Wednesday will reduce the field to a final two, who will then go to a ballot of Tory members.

Mr Tugendhat thanked those who backed him in a post on X, adding: "Your energy, your ideas and your support have shown a vision of what our party could become.

"Our campaign has ended but our commitment to our country continues."

Mr Tugendhat served as security minister under Mr Sunak's premiership and before becoming an MP was a member of the armed forces - a fact he has honed in on to pitch himself as the candidate of public service.

Seen as being from the moderate, centrist wing of the party, he was equal third with former home secretary Mr Cleverly in the last round of voting, when Mel Stride was knocked out.

Mr Cleverly saw a surge in support after the Conservative Party conference last week, when he gave a well-received speech urging party members to be "more normal" and "sell Conservatism with a smile".

Previously Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch, from the right of the party, were seen as the frontrunners.

But both came under criticism for comments they made at the Tory Party conference - Mr Jenrick for claiming the SAS is being forced to kill rather than capture terrorists because the "European Court will set them free", and Ms Badenoch for comments she made about maternity pay and civil servants.

The remaining contenders will now face a frantic night of vying for the 20 votes that went to Mr Tugendhat.

Mr Cleverly and Mr Jenrick have complained that the drawn-out process will not conclude in time for Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first Budget, which she will present on 30 October.

The new leader will be announced later that week, on 2 November.

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