Boris Johnson tops first ballot in Tory leadership contest

Boris Johnson has secured the highest number of votes in the first ballot to select the Conservative party leader and next prime minister.

Three contenders – Mark Harper, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey – have been knocked out, in the secret ballot held in the House of Commons.

Mr Johnson received 114 votes, Jeremy Hunt was second with 43, and Michael Gove third with 37 votes.

Seven candidates progress to the next round of voting next week.

The two most popular MPs will be put to Tory party members in a final vote later this month.

The winner of the contest to succeed Theresa May is expected to be announced in the week of 22 July.

All 313 Conservative MPs voted in the first ballot.

Mr Johnson said he was “delighted to win the first ballot, but we have a long way to go”.

Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt said he was “delighted” to have come second, saying: “This serious moment calls for a serious leader.”

And Environment Secretary Mr Gove said it was “all to play for” and he was “very much looking forward” to the TV debates on Channel 4 on Sunday and on BBC One on Tuesday next week.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I look forward to continuing to share my positive vision and my plan for uniting the country.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock thanked his supporters, saying it was “terrific to have more votes from colleagues than I could have hoped for”.

Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, said he was “proud and honoured” and he had a “good base to build on”.

International Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the BBC’s Politics Live he was “completely over the moon” to have got through the first vote.

He said he only had six declared votes ahead of the poll, but “more than three times that” voted for him in the secret ballot.