Tory Leadership Contest: How Today's Vote Works And Who Could Be Eliminated
17 June 2019, 17:50 | Updated: 28 October 2019, 15:53
As the Conservative Party leadership contest moves onto the second ballot, LBC's political editor explains how the six remaining candidates get whittled down to the final two.
The contest to find a successor to Theresa May is well underway, and after the first ballot just six of the 13 candidates remain.
Frontrunner Boris Johnson did not attend the first televised debate with fellow candidates Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Rory Stewart and Sajid Javid.
When will we get a new Prime Minister?
The first ballot of MPs on Thursday 13th June narrowed the field down by eliminating candidates with few than 17 MPs support. This meant the end of the campaign for Andrea Leadsom, Esther McVey and Mark Harper.
Next a series of votes will be held to whittle the candidates down to the final two.
Tuesday 18th June 18.00: Results of second ballot. All candidates with fewer than 33 MPs will be eliminated.
If all candidates get the minimum number of votes, than the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated.
Wednesday 19th June 18.00: Results of third ballot. The candidate with the fewest backers will be eliminated.
Thursday 20th June 13.00: Results of fourth ballot. The candidate with the fewest backers will be eliminated.
Thursday 20th June 18.00: Results of fifth ballot. The candidate with the fewest backers will be eliminated.
If needed a further ballot will be held on Thursday night or Friday to whittle the candidates down to the final two candidates.
Once there are only two candidates remaining, 160,000 Conservative members will be asked to select which they wish to be their leader.
Saturday 22nd June: Conservative members start to vote.
Monday 22nd July: The winner of the leadership election will be announced.
The process of the winner moving into Downing Street and taking over as Prime Minister is expected to happen very quickly.
Who is likely to be eliminated in today's Tory leadership vote?
LBC's Theo Usherwood revealed: "If you're asking me who's going to be knocked out tonight, I would say Sajid Javid the Home Secretary. His campaign just hasn't fired on all cylinders.
"If Rory Stewart does well, Michael Gove should squeak over the line.
"But remember, there is a 33-vote threshold that all candidates must achieve.
"There was some speculation that Boris Johnson could even be Prime Minister by tonight if all of the five other candidates fail to get to the 33-mark. But I have a feeling that it won't be happening."
The bookies have Boris Johnson as overwhelming favourite, with Rory Stewart now moving into second place.
Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab follow, with Sajid Javid bringing up the rear.
