Tory leadership: Hunt and Zahawi out of race as Sunak wins first vote

Last time there was a leadership election in the summer 2019, Jeremy Hunt was foreign secretary and he came second. Today, he fell at the first round of voting by failing to clear the 30-vote hurdle.

Last week, Nadhim Zahawi was among those dealing fatal attacks to Boris Johnson's premiership. Today, despite still being chancellor of the exchequer, he too fell at the first.

The clear front runner is Rishi Sunak.
But Penny Mordaunt, who launched her campaign this morning, wasn't far behind.

Warning: There is flash photography in this report.
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[nigelmcclatchey]

"Both camps are claiming she is the one the wider public would go for." Why don't they give it over to the wider public, then, and see in a general election?

[Stuboy]

If we go by their performance under Boris Johnson not for one second would we even consider these as PM material

[darkwoods]

If these are our best options we're really screwed.

[Greenpoloboy]

These people act as if we have been asleep these past few years and don;t remember the horrid things they've done, or not done.

[lyxnick]

It's wild that people are calling Penny Mordaunt moderate

[robinsoncrusoejr]

As Chancellor of the Exchequer for some 3 years, Suenak held second highest office and had extreme power. But he blew it, we have high taxation and a failed economy, and his immaturity shows at every level. He’s most unsuitable for PM and cannot possibly win a General Election in 2 years’ time.

[apezzero]

This is all about Tory party and serving to their cronies, not about the wider public fearing about jobs and opportunities and rising cost of living - except a lip service to them

[grantmck]

Mordaunt is in a fortunate position of being an unknown quantity throughout Johnson's premiership. Shes benefited massively from not being rolled out day after day to defend the actions of criminal incompetence, corruption etc. etc. His cabinet have effectively committed career suicide by treating the country like fools and idiots and its coming back to haunt them now.

[gmorgan]

This was decided along time ago, Rishi came from nowhere to land his Richmond safe seat frim William Hague and this has always been pre decided he was after Boris. Powerfull people playing games.

[Konstantinos_A]

If Sunak become PM we are 100% fucked up

[patsanters]

These names all mentioned is embarassing for Britain .

[teamtryxgg]

Today's circus at the UK parliament was beyond my imagination.

[matthewburnett]

When she says she's backing Kemi "at this stage" shows that they know she won't win and she's going to have to move her support elsewhere.

[az..N]

Let's have an early general election as all these candidates need a reality check and Britain deserves a leader who public votes for

[HuzarFilms]

The choice is like having only bounty’s left in a box of celebrations.

[datdude]

looking at candidates for next Tory PM is like being asked which cancer you would prefer to have…

[Ineedahandle]

Bye-bye Zahawi. I told you that you didn't have a chance.

[shubhampawaskar]

History repeats itself. Rishi is the John Major to Boris' Thatcher.

[hunsey]

Liz, I didn't even know my F.O. brief when dealing with the Russian Diplomats and couldn't even mention even one time she chastised the Gulf States on Human Rights despite calling our Russia, China and 5 other Countries

[ryanfraser]

U can tell these people have been preparing for months....