Eight Conservative MPs have made it onto the ballot to be next party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, announced that former chancellor Rishi Sunak, ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, current foreign secretary Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and Nadhim Zahawi reached the threshold.
The backing of 20 Tory MPs was needed in order to get into the next round of the contest. Ahead of the announcement by Brady, Rehman Chishti and former health secretary Sajid Javid pulled out the race after not getting enough support from their fellow MPs.
In order for MPs to get to the next round of the contest the candidates will need 30 members to get through. Earlier in the day Transport Secretary Grant Shapps threw his weight behind Rishi Sunak after he failed to get the support of enough of his colleagues.
Announcing his withdrawal, Javid said: "Serving in Government is a true privilege. It has been just seven days since I took the difficult decision to resign from the most important job I have ever had, as health secretary during a pandemic.
"Since then, I have set out the values and policies I think are right for the future of our great country. I believe the party must now look outwards, not inwards, if we are to win again.
"There is an abundance of both ideas and talent in our party. One of the candidates will be given the honour of becoming Prime Minister. I look forward to seeing the debate unfold and to see colleagues working together as a united Conservative Party once the leadership election is concluded."
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