This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36718196

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Tory leadership: Theresa May tops first vote but Liam Fox out Tory leadership: Theresa May tops first vote but Liam Fox out
(35 minutes later)
Home Secretary Theresa May has won the first round of voting in the contest to replace David Cameron as the next Conservative leader and prime minister.Home Secretary Theresa May has won the first round of voting in the contest to replace David Cameron as the next Conservative leader and prime minister.
Mrs May, who began the race as the frontrunner, got 165 votes. Minister Andrea Leadsom came second with 66.Mrs May, who began the race as the frontrunner, got 165 votes. Minister Andrea Leadsom came second with 66.
Michael Gove got 48 votes and Stephen Crabb 34. Liam Fox is eliminated from the race, coming last with 16 votes.Michael Gove got 48 votes and Stephen Crabb 34. Liam Fox is eliminated from the race, coming last with 16 votes.
Party members will choose from the two backed by most Tory MPs, with the winner due to be named on 9 September.Party members will choose from the two backed by most Tory MPs, with the winner due to be named on 9 September.
Mrs May and Mr Crabb, the work and pensions secretary, campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU.
Mrs Leadsom, an energy minister, Mr Gove, the justice secretary, and Mr Fox, a former defence secretary, campaigned for Brexit.
The leadership contest has been sparked by David Cameron's decision to step down as prime minster after the UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU, in the 23 June referendum.The leadership contest has been sparked by David Cameron's decision to step down as prime minster after the UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU, in the 23 June referendum.
The prime minister, who had campaigned strongly for a Remain victory, said "fresh leadership" was required as the UK negotiates its exit from the European Union.The prime minister, who had campaigned strongly for a Remain victory, said "fresh leadership" was required as the UK negotiates its exit from the European Union.
'Big job'
The process of choosing a successor - and the new prime minister - began on Monday, as 329 of the 330 Conservative MPs took part in a secret ballot between 11:00 and 18:00 BST.The process of choosing a successor - and the new prime minister - began on Monday, as 329 of the 330 Conservative MPs took part in a secret ballot between 11:00 and 18:00 BST.
Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, announced the result half an hour later, with Mrs May securing a comfortable lead over her rivals. The result was announced half an hour later by Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, with Mrs May securing a comfortable lead over her rivals.
Commenting on the result, Mrs May - who campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU but who has said she will deliver Brexit if PM - said she was "pleased". Commenting on the result, Mrs May - who campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU but who has said she will deliver Brexit if PM - said she was "pleased" and "grateful" to colleagues for their support.
She said there was a "big job" ahead to unite the party and the country following the referendum result, to "negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU" and to "make Britain work for everyone". She said there was a "big job" ahead to unite the party and the country following the referendum, to "negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU" and to "make Britain work for everyone".
She added: "I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as prime minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party."She added: "I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as prime minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party."
Mr Fox - for whom this is his second shot at the Tory top job, after he came third in the 2005 contest which Mr Cameron won - said he was "disappointed" to be knocked out.Mr Fox - for whom this is his second shot at the Tory top job, after he came third in the 2005 contest which Mr Cameron won - said he was "disappointed" to be knocked out.
But he said he did not regret standing in the contest.But he said he did not regret standing in the contest.
"I felt it was vital to stress the importance of national security in this debate and the need for a clear path to our exit from the European Union. I hope I have achieved both these objectives.""I felt it was vital to stress the importance of national security in this debate and the need for a clear path to our exit from the European Union. I hope I have achieved both these objectives."
He said the successful candidate needed to have "experience" to become leader and prime minister, and he said he would announce "in due course" who he would be throwing his weight behind.He said the successful candidate needed to have "experience" to become leader and prime minister, and he said he would announce "in due course" who he would be throwing his weight behind.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, who is backing Mrs Leadsom, said it was "a good result" for her candidate and that her team would be "working hard" to increase her support ahead of the next round of voting. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, who is backing Mrs Leadsom - one of the leading Brexit campaigners who also counts Boris Johnson among her backers - said it was "a good result" for her candidate.
"I think we've had a clear steer so far that Theresa (May) and Andrea (Leadsom are the best people to go forward to the membership," she added. She said Mrs Leadsom's team would be "working hard" to increase her support ahead of the next round of voting.
"I think we've had a clear steer so far that Theresa (May) and Andrea (Leadsom) are the best people to go forward to the membership," Ms Villiers added.
Meanwhile, MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said justice secretary and prominent Brexit campaigner Mr Gove, who he is supporting, had done "really very well".
He predicted Mr Gove would pick up more votes in the next round from MPs who backed Eurosceptic Liam Fox.
The Somerset MP also suggested the support for Mrs May amongst MPs would not necessarily be reflected by the wider party membership.
He said there was a majority of Remain-backing MPs in the Tory party but in the membership "more people supported Leave".
"And that will be very powerful for whichever Brexiteer gets through to the final round. And it is important to have a contest that represents the Brexit view," he added.
The four remaining contenders are due to face a second MPs' vote on Thursday, followed by a final round next Tuesday - unless any of the candidates has dropped out by that time - to whittle the field down to two.The four remaining contenders are due to face a second MPs' vote on Thursday, followed by a final round next Tuesday - unless any of the candidates has dropped out by that time - to whittle the field down to two.
Those two candidates will then go forward to a vote of the entire Conservative membership, with the eventual outcome of the contest to be revealed on 9 September.Those two candidates will then go forward to a vote of the entire Conservative membership, with the eventual outcome of the contest to be revealed on 9 September.