Rishi Sunak is storming ahead in the race to replace Boris Johnson, with more than 100 Tory MPs now backing the former Chancellor to be the next Prime Minister
Penny Morduant, Liz Truss, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat also all received the required 30 backers to make it through to the next round of voting - due to take place on Monday.
Attorney General Suella Braverman is out of the race after receiving only 27 votes.
Read more: Boris Johnson's rise and fall as he steps down as Prime Minister
Tory MPs will continue to vote in subsequent rounds until two candidates are left, who will then battle it out over the summer to win the support of Conservative members, with their choice of the next prime minister being unveiled on September 5.
Mr Johnson will then formally tender his resignation to the Queen to make way for his successor the following day.
Mr Sunak, who has been out in front since the gun fired on the leadership race, has been accused of using "dirty tricks" to martial support.
But he denied this today, saying: "Like all the Members of Parliament who are on my team, they are talking to colleagues and making the case for my candidacy because they believe that I am the best person to beat Keir Starmer and the Labour Party and I’m really grateful for all their support.”
He also defended his economic plan, which would not involve the immediate tax cuts promised by his rivals.
The MP said: “I think our number one economic priority is to tackle inflation and not make it worse. Inflation is the enemy, it makes everybody poorer, and if we don’t act to tackle inflation now it will cost families more in the long run, especially with mortgages.
“I will get taxes down in this Parliament, but I’m going to do so responsibly.
“Because I don’t cut taxes to win elections, I win elections to cut taxes, and I’m convinced that I’m the best person to beat Keir Starmer and the Labour Party at the next election.”
The comments came comes as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss continued to fall behind rival Penny Mordaunt in the race.
Allies of Ms Truss, who is currently in third with 64 backers, were bullish however saying: “Today’s results show that Liz Truss is attracting a wide range of supporters from across the Conservative Party.
“As Liz set out in her speech now is the time for MPs to unite behind the candidate who will cut taxes, deliver the real economic change we need, continue to deliver the benefits of Brexit and ensure Putin loses in Ukraine.
“Liz Truss has the experience to deliver from day one, grow our economy and support working families and then beat Labour."
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