Kemi Badenoch has been knocked out of the race to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. Liz Truss has narrowed the gap with Tory leadership rival Penny Mordaunt, as they compete to secure a place in the run-off vote among members.
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak has yet to come out on top in the latest MPs’ ballot with 118 votes, suggesting he was more than likely to secure a spot in the final two places.
Ms. Mordaunt placed second with 92 votes, becoming only six votes ahead of Ms. Truss with 86 votes. Kemi Badenoch, who placed last with 59 votes, was knocked out of the PM contest. The rest of the three remaining candidates face a further vote by MPs on Wednesday to decide who would emerge as the final two.
The Voting was thrown open to 160,000 Tory party members to select the winner, who would replace Boris Johnson as the new prime minister on 5th September.
Contenders will have to get 119 votes from Tory MPs to get into the run-off, suggesting former chancellor Mr. Sunak is likely to secure a place. Foreign secretary Liz Truss closes the margin on Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt in Tuesday’s vote, gaining 15 more MP votes to Mordaunt’s 10.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith who is supporting Ms. Truss reported that the result showed that she has momentum and was gathering support from a wide range of Conservative MPs.
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