Summary

  • Conservative MPs have voted for the final two candidates to replace Boris Johnson

  • Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss make the cut - Penny Mordaunt is knocked out

  • Sunak got 137 votes, Truss 113, and Mordaunt 105

  • The final two will face a ballot of 160,000 Tory Party members, with the result due on 5 September

  • In the previous round, Sunak was top while Mordaunt came second and Truss third

  • After being knocked out, Mordaunt says "we go forward together"

  • Earlier, Johnson said his "mission is largely accomplished... for now" in his final PMQs as prime minister

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos

  1. What happened yesterday?

    Here's a quick recap of what happened yesterday in the third round of the Conservative leadership contest:

    • Kemi Badenoch became the latest candidate knocked out of the race after gathering the fewest votes, 58, from Tory MPs
    • Rishi Sunak again secured the most supporters, with 118 Tory MPs backing him – a small increase of three votes on Monday’s ballot. He's just two short of the 120 votes that guarantees a place in the final round
    • Penny Mordaunt came second by gaining 10 backers to bring her total to 92, but Liz Truss has gained ground with 15 new votes to come third with 86
    Graphic showing the number of votes each candidate received, with Kemi Badenoch eliminated in fourth place.

    In the widely-expected scenario that Sunak is one of the final two, who he faces is likely to depend on which of Mordaunt or Truss can gather the most votes from those MPs who supported Badenoch.

  2. Good morning

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Conservative leadership contest and other political developments from Westminster.

    Later today, Tory MPs will vote again to decide who makes the final two to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and prime minister.

    The remaining candidates are Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss after Kemi Badenoch was knocked out of the contest on Tuesday.

    The vote takes place between 13:00 and 15:00 and the results will be announced around 16:00.

    The final two will then face a vote among Conservative members, who will pick the winner, due to be announced on 5 September.

    Stay with us for the latest updates and analysis throughout the day.