Conservative Leadership Race: First Vote Takes Place Today
13 June 2019, 07:19 | Updated: 28 October 2019, 15:53
Conservative MPs will stage the first round of voting for their next leader and Prime Minister this morning.
Ten contenders in the Tory leadership race have been nominated to go through to the first round of voting by MPs.
The candidates are: Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid, Rory Stewart, Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock, Andrea Leadsom, Esther McVey and Mark Harper.
Just before the announcement Conservative MP Sam Gyimah pulled out of the race. He said there has "not been enough time to build sufficient support."
The first round of voting will take place today (Thursday). Any candidate who fails to secure the support of at least 17 MPs will be eliminated. If they all pass the threshold, the one with the fewest votes will be out.
When will we get a new Prime Minister?
This is the timetable to get a new Prime Minister.
Thursday 13th June 13.00: Results of first ballot. All candidates with fewer than 17 MPs will be eliminated.
Tuesday 18th June 18.00: Results of second ballot. All candidates with fewer than 33 MPs 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 are the candidates to be Prime Minister?
When nominations closed on Monday, there were 10 candidates standing to be the next Conservative leader.
They are:
Michael Gove
Matt Hancock
Mark Harper
Jeremy Hunt
Sajid Javid
Boris Johnson
Andrea Leadsom
Esther McVey
Dominic Raab
Rory Stewart
