Boris Johnson Tops Tory’s First Ballot Leadership Contest
Three
contenders - Mark Harper, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey - have been knocked
out, in the secret ballot held in the House of Commons.
Mr
Johnson received 114 votes, Jeremy Hunt was second with 43, and Michael Gove
third with 37 votes.
Seven
candidates progress to the next round of voting next week.
The
two most popular MPs will be put to Tory party members in a final vote later
this month.
The
winner of the contest to succeed Theresa May is expected to be announced in the
week of 22 July.
Mr Johnson said he
was "delighted to win the first ballot, but we have a long way to
go".
Foreign
Secretary Mr Hunt said he was "delighted" to have come second,
saying: "This serious moment calls for a serious leader."
And
a spokesperson for Michael Gove's campaign said: "Everyone had written us
off. People said we were going backwards. But we gained support and are in
touching distance of second. It's all to play for."
Home Secretary Sajid
Javid said: "I look forward to continuing to share my positive vision and
my plan for uniting the country."
Health
Secretary Matt Hancock thanked his supporters, saying it was "terrific to
have more votes from colleagues than I could have hoped for".
Former
Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, said he was "proud and honoured" and
he had a "good base to build on".
International
Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the BBC's Politics Live he was
"completely over the moon" to have got through the first vote.
He
said he only had six declared votes ahead of the poll, but "more than
three times that" voted for him in the secret ballot.
Justice Secretary
David Gauke said Mr Stewart was now the main challenger to Mr Johnson, saying:
"He's really in with a chance and the momentum is with Rory."
But
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is supporting Mr Hunt's campaign, said
the foreign secretary is "attractive to many sides of the party because
he's a serious individual".
And
Schools Minister Nick Gibb told BBC Radio 4's World at One that Mr Gove was now
"best placed as a Brexiteer to challenge the front runner" Mr Johnson
in the final.
Mr
Harper said he continued "to believe we need a credible plan that delivers
Brexit" in order to "restore trust".
Mrs
Leadsom's campaign team said they were "disappointed" but "wish
all the other candidates well".
And
Ms McVey said she was "extremely grateful" to those who had voted for
her in the ballot.
Subsequent ballots
are scheduled to take place on 18, 19 and 20 June to whittle down the
contenders until only two are left.
The
final pair will then be put to a vote of members of the wider Conservative
Party from 22 June, with the winner expected to be announced about four weeks
later.
TV election debates
are also scheduled to take place with the leadership candidates, but not all
have confirmed they are taking part.
Work
and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, who is backing Mr Hunt, urged all the
candidates to take part, saying the Conservative Party "needs to remember
that we're not just choosing a leader, we're choosing a prime minister and the
public need to see them".
And
former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who is backing Mr Raab, said it was
"very important" that the contenders participated in debates.
Mr
Johnson has previously been criticised by some of his rivals for not taking
part in media interviews during the campaign.
The
leadership race has so far been dominated by Brexit and arguments over whether
a deal can be renegotiated with the EU by 31 October, and whether talking up a
no-deal Brexit is a plausible promise.
FROM .bbc.com/news/uk-politics-
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