TOM Tugendhat has crashed out of the Tory leadership contest – leaving Kemi Badenoch now fighting to stay in the race.
James Cleverly is the new frontrunner on 39, leapfrogging Robert Jenrick who scored 31.
Ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat crashed out of the contest[/caption]
Ex-Security Minister Mr Tugendhat is the third candidate to be eliminated after receiving just 20 votes.
Tory MPs will tomorrow knock out one more candidate, leaving a final two who will go before a full ballot of party members before a result on November 2.
The remaining three candidates will spend 24 hours scrambling to hoover up Mr Tugendhat’s MP supporters.
It is likely Shadow Home Secretary Mr Cleverly will benefit the most from the exit of his fellow centrist.
Mr Cleverly has already received a boost after former hopeful Mel Stride endorsed him yesterday on the back of a successful party conference speech.
Tory leadership results – third round
Robert Jenrick: 31
James Cleverly: 39
Kemi Badenoch: 30
Tom Tugendhat: 20
Former Immigration Minister Mr Jenrick is expected to cruise into the last two having won a solid base of supporters with his hardline borders appeal.
It leaves grassroots favourite Ms Badenoch battling to survive after a difficult few weeks of gaffes.
She became embroiled in a row about “excessive” maternity pay at the conference in Birmingham last week.
However polls show she remains the rank-and-file’s preferred choice and will likely storm a vote of the full membership.
How will the Tory leadership contest work?
September 4: First round of Tory MP voting to eliminate one candidate
September 10: Second round of Tory MP voting to eliminate one candidate
September 29 – October 2: Final four candidates make their pitches at Conservative party conference in Birmingham
October 8: Third round of Tory MP voting to eliminate one candidate
October 9: Fourth round of Tory MP voting to eliminate one candidate. The final two go to a vote of the wider party membership
November 2: New Tory leader announced
