In the race for the succession of Theresa May as Tory boss and in direct consequence also as head of government is the declared Brexit advocate Boris Johnson also in the third selection round ahead. The former foreign minister today united 143 of the 313 conservative MPs.
The current Foreign Minister, Jeremy Hunt, comes in second with 54 votes, Environment Minister Michael Gove with 51 votes in third place. Interior Minister Sajid Javid came fourth with 38 votes. The development aid minister, Rory Stewart, who was last ennobled by observers with heightened outsider opportunities, dropped out.
In two other ballots, the field is now thinned further – tomorrow there will be only a duel for the Tory executive chair. The two finalists will then face the election of all 160,000 Tory party members at the end of July – unless, as at the time of the Kür Mays, all opposition candidates withdraw.
