Chris Mason
Political editor

Among Conservative MPs and activists this afternoon, open mouthed shock.

Yet another twist in this contest; the runaway favourite, for the last 24 hours at least, ejected; Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch, not either or, making it to the run-off.

Shorthand political labels for folk within a political party are often inadequate in capturing the subtlety of their outlook. But those who see themselves as centrist, or on the left of the Conservative fold, find themselves without a flagbearer in the final two.

Instead, it's Jenrick versus Badenoch.

Jenrick has moved to the right since becoming an MP, his experience in government shifting his instincts on immigration for instance.

Badenoch is seen by her supporters as nothing less than a potential star: pugnacious in articulating her conservatism, willing to say what others won’t.

But even her backers admit as one put it that she’s a "work in progress", more vulnerable to foot in mouth moments as well as incidences of triumph.

For many, she will now be seen as the favourite to win. But then again this morning many thought James Cleverly was a racing certainty to make the final two.

The jeopardy of elections eh? And now the next one begins, Rishi Sunak’s successor will be announced three weeks on Saturday.

Thomas Copeland
Live reporter

It's the result that very few expected, so here's a quick reminder of what just happened in the Conservative leadership contest:

• James Cleverly has been eliminated in a close race, despite receiving the highest number of votes in the previous round
• "Sadly it wasn’t to be," said the shadow home secretary - who dropped by two to 37 votes in the vote of 120 Tory MPs
• Kemi Badenoch topped the poll with 42, with Robert Jenrick just one behind on 41

• Badenoch and Jenrick, both seen as being on the right of the party, now go head-to-head before Conservative Party members from tomorrow
• They will have until 31 October to elect their new leader - who will succeed Rishi Sunak as the country's next leader of the opposition

With a final result due on 2 November, we'll be ending our live coverage of the race for the moment - thanks for joining us.

The page was edited by Sophie Abdulla and Adam Durbin, and written by Jennifer McKiernan, Rachel Flynn and myself.

Kemi Badenoch has just finishing speaking to the BBC, making the case her leadership pitch is wider than only talking about leaving the European Convention of Human Rights.

"We need to talk about the system, which I think is broken," she says.

Badenoch says that change "can't just be about one little part of immigration policy", adding that withdrawing from the European treaty would not change that "there are still many things that would not work".

This was the result nobody was expecting, the assistant editor of Conservative Home has told the BBC News Channel.

But Will Atkinson says it was the outcome the online publication expected before James Cleverly impressed with his candidate speech at Conservative Party's annual conference last month.

Atkinson says it looked like Jenrick was losing momentum after the conference.

As for who will win, Atkinson says it will be close, but he thinks the leadership position will go to Kemi Badenoch.

We can give you some reaction from Robert Jenrick now, who tells the BBC he's "so pleased" to be in the final two.

"My message is one of change, not with platitudes but with policies that will address the big challenges facing this country," he says.

Jenrick then lists the NHS, the economy and immigration as the country's top three issues, adding that he has a "clear vision" to regain the trust and support of the British public.

Sarah Olney, a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman, says both finalists have been "tainted" by their time in government.

"If this were an interview process they would've put the job advert up again," she adds.

"The best the Conservatives can come up with is a failed former Minister who’d vote for Donald Trump and a failed former Minister who thinks maternity pay is excessive."

Labour's party chair Ellie Reeves has reacted to the vote saying: "After months of gaffes, wild unfunded policies and infighting, Tory members now have the unenviable task of choosing between two of the architects of Tory failure."

She accuses both Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick of being "central figures in 14 years of hapless leadership and decline".

Reeves adds the pair have have "already proven they’ve learned nothing from the mistakes that took the Conservative Party to its worst defeat in modern history".

Conservative MP Danny Kruger, who is backing Robert Jenrick, says he's very pleased Jenrick came "right from the back of the pack" to reach the final two.

He tells the BBC that Jenrick proved he's the "one with the plan" to change the party's relationship with the public.

Kruger says the public is "partly right" to think the Conservative Party didn't deliver when in government.

"We need to rewire the British state and make it work for the British people," he adds.

Joe Pike
Political Investigations Correspondent

"It was a genuine shock", says one veteran Conservative.

"The number of pledges made by MPs will have greatly exceeded 120, but that is perfectly understandable because our natural instinct is not to upset people."

Commenting on the fact that the final two candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are seen to be on the right of the party, the MP adds: "People don’t just vote based on left and right: it’s personality, personal relationships and a lot else besides."

"I’m gobsmacked," says another MP hurrying past. "Really surprised. It’s a curveball."

A third Tory MP told me: "MPs are the most duplicitous electorate.

"No question."

James Cleverly has posted his thanks to supporters on social media, following his elimination from the contest

"I’m grateful for the support I’ve received on this campaign from colleagues, party members and the public," he says.

"Sadly it wasn’t to be. We are all Conservatives, and it’s important the Conservative Party unites to take on this catastrophic Labour government."

"I was one of the people gasping," says Andrew Bowie, an MP supporting Kemi Badenoch's bid for Conservative leadership

Bowie tells the BBC he is delighted that Badenoch, who he describes as "the members' favourite", has received the most votes from MPs today.

"Now it's up the members to decide who they want and in every poll that we've seen so far Kemi Badenoch as topped it," he adds.

Bowie agrees that there would have been a backlash if Badenoch had not made it through to the final round to be considered.

"She doesn't shy away from a fight, but she does generate a headline," Bowie says. "We're going to need someone like that."

Joe Pike
Political investigations correspondent

There were gasps in committee room 14 as it was announced yesterday's frontrunner James Cleverly had been knocked out of the Tory leadership contest.

“You know what colleagues are like,” says one MP as he left the room with a smile. “People will talk to each other and switch. Anything can happen.”

One senior MP heavily involved in the contest tells me: “It’s not a result I expected. There may have been a degree of complacency in one camp. I did warn colleagues that if they try to game the system they need to be careful about possible problems.

“It seems Tom Tugendhat’s votes went to Robert and Kemi. It’s quite a surprising position.”

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

The gathered Conservative MPs thump the desks as the results are announced.

James Cleverly has been knocked out of the running in a shock result.

He had been leading the pack in a vote only 24 hours ago, following a barnstorming speech at Tory conference last month.

Now the two candidates many view as being the most right-wing of the trio will go head-to-head.

With 1922 chairman Bob Blackman announcing that 120 Tory MPs took part, here's the full breakdown of a tight contest:

• 42 for Kemi Badenoch
• 41 for Robert Jenrick
• 37 for James Cleverly

Tory MPs have voted for Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick to proceed into the final round of the Conservative leadership contest.

James Cleverly has been knocked out of race.

Conservative Party members will now vote on which of the final two will become their leader.

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

Tory MPs are assembling in the committee room ahead of the results announcement.

About a dozen have taken their seats in a small, wood-panelled room in the corridors of the House of Commons.

They’ll be first to find out who remains in the race for new Conservative leader.

The decision on which of the three contenders is knocked out is the closest vote yet - so the tension is high.

Not long now until the chairman of the 1922 committee - the main group of all backbench Conservative MPs - announces the final two contenders.

The committee decide the process for how the leader is picked. Bob Blackman was voted in as chair in July - he's who we're due to be hearing from at around 15:30 BST.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Robert Jenrick has been in politics for a decade now. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2014 as the MP for Newark - a position he still holds.

His most recent government role was as immigration minister from 2022 to 2023, before he resigned over former PM Rishi Sunak's now-defunct plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda - stating that it did not go far enough.

Prior to this, he served as housing secretary under Boris Johnson.

He has led calls for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human rights, and says the party needs to confront hard truths.

Known for her robust views and no-nonsense style, Badenoch's political heroine growing up in Nigeria was Margaret Thatcher, according to Blue Ambition, a biography by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft.

Her Renewal2030 campaign promises to champion capitalism and Brexit, bringing the party "back to its roots".

She held a series of ministerial jobs under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, who promoted her to business secretary.

But it is arguably through her other former role - as minister for women and equalities - that she has emerged as a darling of the modern Conservative right over her stance on trans rights.

Image source, PA Media

A former deputy mayor in London under Boris Johnson, James Cleverly entered Parliament in 2015 and made his way to the position of home secretary under Rishi Sunak - the very man he is trying to succeed.

Cleverly, 55, has been very confident about his chances, telling the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast that he "outperformed all the other runners and riders by a county mile".

Some view him as a unifying candidate, bringing together the qualities of One Nation conservatism and the Tory right. Cleverly has previously held several senior ministerial positions, including as foreign secretary and home secretary.

He was very active on the fringes of the Tory party conference, reflecting on what when wrong for the party and admitting the “stop the boats” slogan adopted by Sunak in 2023 set an “unachievable target".