PENNY Mordaunt has been knocked out of the race to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister.
MPs cast their votes once again on Wednesday after Kemi Badenoch crashed out of the race on Tuesday afternoon.
Unlike early rounds of voting, there was no threshold to meet, it was simply the candidate who came in last that was eliminated.
A total of 357 votes were cast of a possible 358, with two spoiled papers.
The results of the final round of voting are as follows:
- Rishi Sunak – 137 votes
- Liz Truss – 113 votes
- Penny Mordaunt – 105 votes
The result means Mordaunt has crashed out of the race with the lowest number of MPs' votes.
The eliminated MP issued a muted statement after the results were announced, writing on Twitter: "Thanks to everyone for all your hard work. We go forward together."
Sunak and Truss will go through to the final round of voting, in which the members of the Tory party will cast their vote.
It is not known how many members the Conservatives have. In 2019 there were around 160,000, and estimates suggest there could be as many as 175,000 this time around.
The ballot will close on September 2. The winner of the party members' vote will be announced on September 5, with the new prime minister expected to take the keys to No 10 the following day.
The two final Tories in the race can expect a summer of extensive media coverage, beginning with an hour-long debate on the BBC on Monday, July 25.
This may be followed by special interview programmes with the broadcaster’s Nick Robinson.
Tory MPs are reportedly concerned about the effect on their party’s reputation by the two top MPs attacking one another over an extended period.
Polling so far has suggested that Truss is the clear favourite to beat Sunak in a head-to-head vote of Tory members.
MPs are reportedly concerned that both candidates are open to attack as having been complicit in the mistakes of Johnson's government, leaving the next General Election Labour's for the taking.
