Tom Tugendhat has been eliminated from the race to be the next leader of the Conservative party.

The Tonbridge and Malling MP polled 31 votes, while former chancellor Rishi Sunak continued to top the poll with 115 votes.

Penny Mordaunt remains in second place, but with one fewer vote (82)  than in the second ballot.

Kemi Badenoch finished in fourth place with 58 votes but picked up more new voters (9) in the third ballot than Liz Truss who finished with 71, seven more than the previous round.

Upon learning the result, Tugendhat said he was “immensely proud” of his team. 

He wrote on Twitter: “Although it wasn’t to be today, I am immensely proud of the positive vision we put forward for our country. 

“Thank you to all those who supported me and believed in #ACleanStart. This is only the beginning!”

Earlier today, both Sunak and Truss pulled out of a planned TV debate on Sky amid concerns over the damage the debates were doing to the Conservative party.

Political commentator Iain Dale called their decisions, which caused the debate to be cancelled, a “disgrace”.