First MP to quit in Tory leader vote to replace Rishi Sunak | Politics | News

Dame Priti Patel has dropped out of the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as party leader following a vote by MPs.

The 121 members of the Conservative Party took part in the election for the party leadership for the first time this afternoon.

Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, announced that James Cleverly, Mel Stride, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch are still in the running.

Mr Jenrick received 28 votes, followed by Ms Badenoch with 22 votes.

Mr Cleverly received 21 votes, Tom Tugendhat 17 and Mel Stride 16.

Dame Priti came last with 14 votes.

The vote was secret, meaning we will not know who voted for whom. However, we were told the total number of votes for each candidate.

A runoff election to eliminate a second candidate will take place on Monday.

The remaining four candidates will present themselves to MPs and members at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham later this month.

The selection is then narrowed down to two final candidates, on whom the members vote.

The winner will be announced on November 2nd.