Priti Patel will not be taking on Keir Starmer as leader of the opposition (Picture: PA)
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel is the first candidate to be knocked out of the race to become the next Conservative leader.
Bob Blackman, the chairman of the 1922 Committee which balloted MPs on who they want at the top of the party, announced the results of the first round of voting this afternoon.
Ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick came top with 28 votes, with bookies’ favourite Kemi Badenoch in second with 22 and Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly in third with 21.
Patel received 14 votes from MPs, just behind Shadow Pensions Secretary Mel Stride with 16 and former security minister Tom Tugendhat with 17.
The tightness of the vote counts reflect a race with no obvious frontrunner, as the remaining five vie to make it to the final two – when the electorate changes from Tory MPs to the wider party membership.
It was widely believed that Mel Stride would be the first to leave the race, but his fifth-place finish may mean he will now officially launch his campaign.
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