Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will battle to become the next prime minister after Michael Gove was eliminated from the Tory leadership contest in the final round of voting by MPs.
The final outcome of the leadership race will not be known until the week beginning July 22.
7.20pm
In a video posted to social media, Jeremy Hunt said he is gong to give Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson “the fight of his life” in the contest.
“The campaign starts now, I’ve got a fantastic team behind me,” he said in the video. “We are going to give Boris the fight of his life.
“He needs to be ready for that, because we’re going to be going out there and making strong arguments that this is the best way to deliver Brexit, with someone who can go and get a better deal from the European Union, and also has so much else to offer our country.
“The entrepreneur who wants to fire up our economy, turbo-charge it and create those jobs that we all need for the future, the Foreign Secretary who wants us to walk tall in the world, the campaigner who wants our party to appeal to young people, and the social reformer who wants to abolish illiteracy.
“All these exciting messages, I’m raring to go!”
Thank you so much to my colleagues who have backed me to get this far – and to Lucia for all her incredible support. The campaign starts now. Please make sure you join me by volunteering here: https://t.co/JP6DslIj8V #HastobeHunt pic.twitter.com/R3ZMLAz7Ur
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
7.05pm
It is understood Theresa May, who voted by proxy, did not ask for her ballot to be spoilt.
7pm
European Research Group vice chairman Mark Francois said he was delighted with the result.
“It means a clean fight,” he said. “If it had been Michael it would have been a lot more kinetic.”
Mr Francois said there was a “real difference in principle” between Mr Hunt, who he labelled a Remainer, and Mr Johnson.
He added he expected Mr Johnson to win and the UK to leave the EU by October 31, adding: “What’s not to like?”
6.50pm
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said Boris Johnson was the man to “inspire and lead” the UK out of the EU and called on Remainer MPs to “stop bellyaching and moaning”.
Mr Duncan Smith also claimed Mr Johnson had been misinterpreted in the BBC debate when he did not commit to Brexit by the end of October in all circumstances.
“He said at the beginning of the programme if we don’t leave on October 31 we will face a cataclysm.”
6.45pm
Watch: Final two in Tory leadership race
6.40pm
Michael Gove’s campaign manager Mel Stride said Mr Gove’s cocaine admission had damaged his leadership bid.
He said: “It stalled us and meant momentum was lost at that time.”
Mr Stride said he did not think Mr Johnson’s campaign had been dabbling in the dark arts by lending votes to his preferred rival.
He said: “It doesn’t seem to me on first observation of this that there has been.
“Because we didn’t see a situation where, as some had speculated, a very large number of votes might have transferred from say Boris Johnson to Jeremy Hunt.
“It would appear to me everybody has behaved pretty much as one would hope they would.”
6.38pm
Jeremy Hunt has congratulated Michael Gove after he was eliminated from the Tory leadership contest, calling him one of the “brightest stars in the Conservative team”.
Congratulations to @michaelgove on his campaign – energy, intellectual rigour and the passion of someone whose own story speaks to Conservative values as much as his superb oratory. Michael will always be one of the brightest stars in the Conservative team
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
6.33pm
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she was sorry to Michael Gove on Twitter – after earlier pledging her support.
Sorry, @michaelgove #kissofdeath pic.twitter.com/Br7l8YvKHb
— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) June 20, 2019
6.30pm
Jeremy Hunt conceded he was the “underdog” in the race, but noted “in politics surprises do happen”.
I’m the underdog – but in politics surprises happen as they did today. I do not doubt the responsibility on my shoulders – to show my party how we deliver Brexit and not an election, but also a turbo-charged economy and a country that walks tall in the world
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
6.28pm
And then there were two…
Boris Johnson said he was “deeply honoured” to have won more than 50% of the vote.
I’m deeply honoured to have secured more than 50 per cent of the vote in the final ballot. Thank you to everyone for your support! I look forward to getting out across the UK and to set out my plan to deliver Brexit, unite our country, and create a brighter future for all of us. pic.twitter.com/i5D4ByurAM
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 20, 2019
6.22pm
Michael Gove thanked his “brilliant” campaign team after he was eliminated.
Naturally disappointed but so proud of the campaign we ran. Huge thanks to my brilliant campaign team. It’s been an honour to be able to set out a vision for the future of our great country. Many congratulations to Boris and Jeremy!
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) June 20, 2019
6.20pm
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said the results are “absolutely fantastic” for Jeremy Hunt and that he is “the best man to unite the country”.
Absolutely fantastic result for @Jeremy_Hunt!
I’m confident that our members will now see that he is the best man to unite the country, deliver a Brexit deal and turbocharge our economy.#HasToBeHunt
— Amber Rudd MP (@AmberRuddHR) June 20, 2019
6.15pm
Sajid Javid said his party will need Michael Gove “more than ever to face the challenges ahead” after the Environment Secretary was knocked out of the Tory leadership contest.
I pay tribute to my friend @michaelgove for his brilliant campaign. He is a powerful advocate for Conservative values and has been an incredible reformer in government. We will need him more than ever to face the challenges ahead.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 20, 2019
Congratulations @borisjohnson & @jeremy_hunt. Well-deserved. Let’s have a robust but positive contest, showing off the best in Conservative ideas and values.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 20, 2019
6.10pm
Here is the result of the fifth round of voting in the Tory leadership contest:
– Michael Gove: 75
– Jeremy Hunt: 77
– Boris Johnson: 160
There was one spoiled ballot.
6.07pm
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will battle to become the next prime minister after Michael Gove was eliminated from the Tory leadership contest.
5.30pm
Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski reaffirmed his support for Boris Johnson.
Just voted for 5th time for @BorisJohnson to become our next Party Leader and Prime Minister. We await results from this ballot. I am pleased that Mr Johnson has secured a majority of colleagues’ support in previous ballot and hope his tally increases further this evening.
— Daniel Kawczynski (@DKShrewsbury) June 20, 2019
5.25pm
A source in Michael Gove’s campaign said the final round of voting was “too close to call”.
5pm
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is backing Jeremy Hunt, said he hoped Michael Gove would not get through to the final two.
“I think it would a very odd dynamic to have two ex journalists fighting for the premiership of the country,” he told reporters.
“I’m sure it would do employment prospects a great deal for all of you but I think it’s our job to provide good governance not entertain the media.”
Dr Fox said he was surprised any MP could tell “80,000 people in their constituency to go and vote and then spoil a ballot”.
When asked if the “dark arts” were being used to mobilise votes he replied “perish the thought”.
4.50pm
The Tory leadership race in a single picture:
David Lidington, who previously backed Rory Stewart, implored candidates to “look beyond Brexit” as the Tory Party is “facing an existential crisis” and needed to find younger supporters.
He also warned the Union was under threat, both in Scotland and Northern Ireland, from a no-deal Brexit in particular.
He said: “I certainly believe a no-deal would add to the risks to the Union.
“We have to be confident about demonstrating the benefits of the Union for every part of the Union.”
4.20pm
Sajid Javid was tight-lipped as he voted, telling journalists: “I’m not saying which way I voted.”
4.15pm
Amber Rudd said she was “excited”, adding: “Fingers crossed for Jeremy Hunt.”
4.05pm
… and Mr Johnson again declined to comment as he left the room.
3.56pm
Frontrunner Boris Johnson has just gone in to vote without making any comment to journalists.
3.52pm
Speaking as he waited to enter the room to vote, candidate Jeremy Hunt, currently in third place after the morning tally, said he was feeling “confident but not overconfident… Realistic”.
3.45pm
Michael Gove told journalists “you’ve all been wonderful” as he left the voting room.
Paul Masterton says he’s “not yet decided”, wisely avoiding publicly backing another’s candidate after his last two choices got knocked out
— Alain Tolhurst (@Alain_Tolhurst) June 20, 2019
3.40pm
Former candidate Rory Stewart would not say who he voted for, although he insisted he had voted on both opportunities today, rather than spoiling his ballot.
When pressed on whether he or his supporters would back Michael Gove, currently second in the running, Mr Stewart said the waiting journalists were “charmers, all of you”.
3.30pm
A queue of about 20 Tory MPs waited at the door to be able to vote for the fifth time during the leadership contest.
First in the queue to vote in the final round of the Tory leadership ballot: Sir Desmond Swayne is here nice and early. He has “a train to catch” apparently.
— Alain Tolhurst (@Alain_Tolhurst) June 20, 2019
Leaving the voting room, ERG chairman Jacob Rees Mogg said he had given his proxy vote to Anne-Marie Trevelyan and “short of giving it to Boris myself”, said he couldn’t trust anyone else more to vote “the right way”.
Former candidate Dominic Raab left the room after voting without speaking to journalists.
3pm
Jeremy Hunt said Sajid Javid’s performance in the leadership contest was a “credit to him and the party”.
Proud to be in race with @sajidjavid who reminded us that the British dream of opportunity for all no matter background is possible in today’s Conservative party. He is also one of the most straight and decent people in politics. His performance a credit to him and the party
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
2.40pm
Meanwhile, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson announced her support for Michael Gove to be the next prime minister after her preferred candidate, Sajid Javid, fell out of the leadership race.
She told STV News: “I stuck with Saj, I thought he was the best person for the job… In terms of the people who are left, I hope very much to see Michael in the final two and he’ll have my support.”
The next round of voting in the contest will begin at 3.30pm.
2.35pm
Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna said electing Boris Johnson as Tory leader would give licence “to those who spread division”.
The Tory party is on its way to making Boris Johnson Prime Minister of our country – a man who has a record of making racist & Islamaphobic remarks. Electing a leader & PM with this record normalises hatred and gives licence to those who spread division. pic.twitter.com/9WJMOrYzg1
— Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) June 20, 2019
2.20pm
Jeremy Hunt pledged to put Boris Johnson “through his paces”.
Critical decision now for all colleagues is what choice do we present to the country? And what future? Choose me for unity over division, and I will put Boris through his paces and then bring our party and country back together.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
2.03pm
Asked about comments made by frontrunner Boris Johnson on the implementation period for Brexit, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “There’s no Withdrawal Agreement without a backstop and there’s no implementation period without a Withdrawal Agreement.”
On a further Brexit extension, Mr Varadkar warned: “There’s very much a strong view across the European Union that there shouldn’t be any more extensions.
“While I have endless patience, some of my colleagues have lost patience, quite frankly, with the UK and there’s enormous hostility to any further extension.
“So, I think an extension could only really happen if it were to facilitate something like a general election in the UK or perhaps even something like a second referendum if they decided to have one.
“What won’t be entertained is an extension for further negotiations or further indicative votes: the time for that has long since passed.”
1.56pm
Well done @sajidjavid for a brilliant and inspirational campaign. You are a hero and a great friend. You have so much more to give the party and the country in the future.
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) June 20, 2019
1.40pm
Sources close to Sajid Javid told Press Association he would not be endorsing any of the remaining candidates today.
1.36pm
Truly humbled by the support I have received from colleagues and Conservatives around the country. We ran to win, but I am incredibly proud of the race we have run together – #TeamSaj! Thank you pic.twitter.com/wxqWK2wzJu
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 20, 2019
1.35pm
Mark Francois added: “The other thing that every MP wants to know is who were the two numpties who spoilt their ballot papers?
“I can’t believe anybody did that by accident.”
1.31pm
Boris Johnson supporter Mark Francois said of the former foreign Secretary: “He is almost certainly in the final.
“And the question is who is his opponent going to be? It’s very close.”
1.25pm
The contest is now down to the final three:
Michael Gove tweeted: “Absolutely delighted to come second in the latest ballot! It’s all to play for in the final ballot this afternoon. If I make the final two I look forward to having a civilised debate of ideas about the future of our country.”
1.17pm
Delighted to have the support of over half of all Conservative MPs in the fourth ballot. I am incredibly grateful, but we have much more work to do.
Join the #BackBoris team ? https://t.co/tGRXu94CmT pic.twitter.com/ZV1t8kkwct
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 20, 2019
1.17pm
Conservative MP Ross Thompson tweeted: “.@BorisJohnson is smashing it again in that latest round of voting. He is the only candidate with momentum and the only candidate bringing our MPs together from every side and part of the country. Boris can deliver Brexit, unite the party and unite the country.”
1.16pm
Here are the results of the fourth ballot in the Tory leadership contest:
– Michael Gove: 61
– Jeremy Hunt: 59
– Sajid Javid: 34
– Boris Johnson: 157
There were two spoiled ballots.
1.05pm
Sajid Javid has been eliminated from the Tory leadership race.
12.42pm
Here’s how the candidates fared in the last vote:
Boris Johnson was the favourite as he left home early on Thursday.
George Osborne’s Evening Standard has backed Boris Johnson to become the next Prime Minister.
The former Chancellor’s newspaper wrote in an editorial: “Twice, the Evening Standard supported Boris Johnson to be the Mayor of London. Today we back him to be the next Prime Minister.”
It said Mr Johnson had the best chance of “uniting this divided government” and “had the most room for manoeuvre to get the country out of the Brexit mess”.
“That’s why we believe if there’s one of these candidates who can give Britain back its mojo, it’s BoJo,” it concluded.
12.15pm
Brexit has been a key battleground in the campaign:
Voting has closed in the fourth round of the Tory leadership ballot, with the results expected at about 1pm.
11.58am
Justice Secretary David Gauke, who previously backed Rory Stewart for the leadership, refused to say who he voted for when he left the ballot room.
11.42am
Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove have both voted. Mr Hunt said he was “confident but not over confident” while Mr Gove claimed he was looking forward to being in the final two.
11.25am
Asked who she voted for, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I have answered this question the same way every time I have come out, and I think you know the same answer today, you can probably chant it with me in unison – none of your business.”
11.15am
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson appears certain to make it through to the next stage of the process, having topped the ballot in each of the three rounds of the contest so far and securing the votes of 143 of the 313 Tory MPs.
Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid also remain in the contest, but two rounds of voting on Thursday – the first announced at 1pm – will whittle the field down to a final pairing.
At each round, the MP with the lowest total will be eliminated, with the final announcement due to be made at 6pm.
