Tom Tugendhat has been booted out of the Tory leadership race after the party's third round of voting - leaving just James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch remaining.
MPs cast their ballots this afternoon before the results were announced just after 3.30pm.
The total votes cast were as follows:
- James Cleverly - 39 votes
- Robert Jenrick - 31 votes
- Kemi Badenoch - 30 votes
- Tom Tugendhat - 20 votes (eliminated)
The numbers look to herald the arrival of a new frontrunner: James Cleverly, Rishi Sunak's Home Secretary - who won plaudits for his rabble-rousing speech at the party conference in Birmingham.
While the current chasers, Jenrick and Badenoch, appear to have just 24 hours to try and rally enough MPs to their cause to pip each other to the post and compete for a membership-wide vote.
Conservative MPs will vote once again tomorrow to decide which two candidates will contest for all Tory members' votes - with a result expected on November 2.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR MORE LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Labour vote share COLLAPSES with Starmer's party just one point ahead of Tories in new poll
Earlier today, GB News reported on how Labour’s lead in the polls has narrowed to a mere one point following a turbulent beginning to Sir Keir Starmer’s tenure as Prime Minister.
This latest damning figures have emerged despite the PM's efforts to restore order by accepting the resignation of his chief of staff, Sue Gray.
According to a survey by More in Common for Politico, Labour stands at meagre 29 per cent approval rating, while the Conservative Party trails closely with 28 per cent.
Reform UK polled at 19 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats at 11 per cent. The Green Party secured seven per cent, while the SNP registered just two per cent.
Three months ago, Starmer was consistently polling around 20 points ahead of the Conservatives before the election.
The poll comes after weeks of internal strife within Labour following its historic election victory, alongside scrutiny over gifts received by the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers, and growing concerns that the government has lost grip on its own agenda.
Tory leadership voting underway as opposition narrows down its choices from four to three
In just a few minutes' time, the Conservative leadership contest is set to take a new twist, with the party whittling down its four remaining candidates for the top job to three.
In the last round of voting, the party's MPs cast their votes as follows:
- Robert Jenrick (33 votes)
- Kemi Badenoch (28 votes)
- James Cleverly (21 votes)
- Tom Tugendhat (21 votes)
The party will announce its final three at 3.30pm, before MPs hold one last vote tomorrow to decide which two candidates will contest for all Tory members' votes - with a result expected on November 2.
Boris Johnson: Downing Street flat 'looked like a crack den'
Boris Johnson claims he had to fix up his Downing Street flat because "the whole thing looked like a crack den".
Johnson was slammed in 2021 when he reportedly spent six figures to renovate his flat.
The annual grant funded by the taxpayer for such work is £30,000, and the party was fined £17,800 by the Electoral Commission for failing to properly declare the donations.
"It needed to be refurbished," he told LBC.
Labour insists it wants 'fair deal' for petrol and diesel drivers despite looming fuel duty decision
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has confirmed that the Government remains committed to providing fair petrol and diesel prices to Britons, despite the prospect of a potential fuel duty hike.
Speaking in the Commons earlier today, Conservative MP Luke Evans, asked the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero about a PumpWatch fuel price checker scheme.
PumpWatch is a tool pledged by the Government to display the price of petrol and diesel at forecourts around the country to help motorists find the most competitive costs in their area.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
‘We must change our party to regain public’s trust', says Jenrick
‘We should send all migrants back to France’ says former Tory Chairman
A former chairman of the Conservative Party has said he does not believe the UK should be taking in migrants who arrive from France.
Speaking to GB News, Sir Jake Berry said: “My view is there's no such thing as an asylum seeker from France.
“They are not fleeing persecution in France. My view is that none of them should be coming, and we should send them all back to France.
“That's my base position. But actually, these figures are extraordinary. You think about it, you walk down your street and you see a hundred people: one of them is going to be in this country legally. It's just mind blowing."
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Britain's population rises by 1% in a year 'mainly due to net migration'
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said that the UK's population increased by 1 per cent in one year, mainly due to net international migration.
By mid-2023, the total population of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was estimated to be 68.3 million.
The ONS said: "Net international migration was the main contributor to population increase for all four countries of the UK in the year to mid-2023."
Most Britons think Labour Government is 'sleazy', new poll reveals
A new YouGov poll reveals that more than half of Britons consider the recently elected Labour government to be "sleazy," just 100 days into Sir Keir Starmer's tenure.
The perception comes amid controversy surrounding gifts and hospitality accepted by Starmer since becoming Labour leader.
The poll found that six in ten respondents used this term to describe the government, while 77 per cent still view the previous Conservative administration as "sleazy" – not significantly higher than Labour's figure.
Around 30 per cent of Labour voters agree with this characterisation, and 38 per cent feel the party has fallen short of their expectations.
Crunch point approaches Tory leadership race today
A leadership vote will narrow the field of candidates who could replace Rishi Sunak as head of the Tory Party.
Four contenders, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Tom Tugnedhat will find out their fate later today.
By Wednesday, just two candidates will remain and party members will decide the winner.
Starmer to hold key cabinet meeting to outline strategy for Labour’s manifesto amid possible reforms
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to meet cabinet ministers later today as the October budget grows closer.
The Prime Minister will likely discuss the cost of living crisis, energy policy, and NHS reforms.
It comes as Starmer plans to solidify his leadership and demonstrate his party's readiness.
Starmer 'does not have a problem working with women', says Transport Secretary
The Transport Secretary was asked about criticisms of the Prime Minister from now-independent MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield, as reports suggest top aide Sue Gray may have been forced out of No 10 by male advisers to Starmer.
"I don’t think the Prime Minister has any problem working with women," Louise Haigh told Sky News.
"If you look at the women he has around him, the first female Chancellor (Rachel Reeves), Angela Rayner, the Cabinet is gender balanced, we have more female Labour MPs than there are Tory MPs in total.
"So think any sense that the Labour Party has a problem with women – or the Prime Minister – is evidenced by the facts of us."
Falklands and Gibraltar ‘not up for negotiation’, says Labour
David Lammy has told MPs that the deal with Mauritius "does not signal any change in policy to Britain’s other overseas territories".
The Foreign Secretary told the Commons: “I want to reassure the House and all members of the UK family worldwide that this agreement does not signal any change in policy to Britain’s other overseas territories.
“British sovereignty on the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and the sovereign base areas, is not up for negotiation. The situations are not comparable.
“This has been acknowledged across our overseas territories. Fabian Picardo, chief minister for Gibraltar, vocally supported this agreement, stating that there is no possible read across to Gibraltar on the issues of sovereignty."
Find Out More...
