In full: Conservative leadership announcement

Robert Jenrick has finished top in the first round of voting in the Tory leadership contest as Dame Priti Patel was eliminated from the race.

Mr Jenrick secured the backing of 28 Tory MPs, putting him six ahead of Kemi Badenoch who finished in second place with 22.

James Cleverly was in third place with 21, Tom Tugendhat was in fourth place with 17 and Mel Stride was in fifth place with 16. Dame Priti finished in last place after securing the backing of 14 MPs.

The five surviving candidates will now face a second vote on Tuesday next week as Tory MPs are tasked with reducing the field down to four.

#politics #conservatives #leadership

[TooTolerant]

Looking at these candidates - the Conservatives still aren't getting the voters moods😂

[prideofdurham]

The qualifications for Tory leader are simple.They must be:-
Liar Hypocrite Greedy Shifty Backstabber Evil and the ability to memorise a pre-written answer and stick to it no matter what the question is.

[markwilson]

Have they considered asking Jeremy Corbyn? He would seem to the be to the right of the current government!

[ianphillips]

Nothing changed here then. Reform will be happy👍

[radudumitriu]

The "conservative leadership" bit, that was hilarious

[Usernotfound]

And that's all, half a minute and they left😅

[forcestorm]

Tom tugenhat for me, i love what he is saying about service duty, very pro union as i am, got backing of scots mps, and is saying the sort of things cameron did but didn't wait to elections to get there, he is the one labour fear and very least be given chance of 4 at conference and if the gormless lot can't see that some who have been in the trenches does not have the credentials to be a conserative leader then they deserve reform to clean up next 5 years

[Lorraine-pr]

Thought it would be Mel Stride or Tom Tugganhart gone. Is it still Dougie Smith choosing the Leader! I hope not!???