Priti Patel leaves Downing Street after being made home secretary

Priti Patel eliminated from Conservative leadership contest

Priti Patel has become the first Conservative MP to be eliminated from the party’s leadership contest.

Tory MPs voted in the contest for the first time this afternoon as they were tasked with reducing the field from six to five.

The former home secretary only won 14 votes from 121 Conservative MPs.

The remaining candidates for Conservative leader, and the number of votes they received, were:

  • James Cleverly – 21
  • Robert Jenrick – 28
  • Tom Tugendhat – 17
  • Mel Stride – 16
  • Kemi Badenoch – 22

These five surviving candidates will now face a second vote on Tuesday next week, with Conservative MPs tasked with reducing the field down to four before the party’s annual conference begins later this month.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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