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Tory leadership: Rudd asks Johnson to quash talk of Gove revenge Tory leadership: Rudd asks Johnson to quash talk of Gove revenge
(about 20 hours later)
Amber Rudd has called on Boris Johnson to respond to concerns that his campaign is encouraging supporters to lend votes to Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to eliminate Michael Gove from the Conservative leadership race.Amber Rudd has called on Boris Johnson to respond to concerns that his campaign is encouraging supporters to lend votes to Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to eliminate Michael Gove from the Conservative leadership race.
The work and pensions secretary, who is backing Hunt to be the next prime minister, said rumours that Johnson’s campaign would use tactical voting to seek revenge on Gove for derailing his leadership campaign in 2016 were “discrediting” the system to select a party leader.The work and pensions secretary, who is backing Hunt to be the next prime minister, said rumours that Johnson’s campaign would use tactical voting to seek revenge on Gove for derailing his leadership campaign in 2016 were “discrediting” the system to select a party leader.
Her comments came on the day when all 313 Tory MPs whittle down Johnson, Hunt, Gove and Sajid Javid to two candidates. The first ballot result is expected at 1pm and the second at around 6pm. The final two candidates will go on to the ballot paper to Conservative members.Her comments came on the day when all 313 Tory MPs whittle down Johnson, Hunt, Gove and Sajid Javid to two candidates. The first ballot result is expected at 1pm and the second at around 6pm. The final two candidates will go on to the ballot paper to Conservative members.
The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges. His style is notably technocratic, with few rhetorical flourishes and an emphasis on his consensual approach and long record as a minister, notably during more than five years as health secretary, a traditional graveyard of ministerial careers. Hunt’s attempts to talk up a backstory as an 'underestimated' entrepreneur can fall flat given he is also the son of an admiral and was head boy at Charterhouse.
Gove has privately reassured colleagues over recent months that he understands the devastating consequences of a no-deal Brexit, not least for his own environment department. Overall, Hunt’s approach can seem uninspiring and hard to pin down in terms of core beliefs, hence the 'Theresa in trousers' nickname among some Tory MPs – one that is more catchy than accurate (since May herself often wears trousers).
He has also stressed his background as a reformer, and promised to boost education funding and tackle social care funding – all pitches that could appeal to Stewartites, potentially enabling Gove to overtake Jeremy Hunt.  In the final round of voting Hunt edged out Michael Gove, 77 votes to 75.
He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time. In the fourth round he rose to second place with 61 votes.
Hunt’s team called his showing on Wednesday a 'fantastic result'. It was, in the sense that he avoided being overtaken by Gove, and that he picked up an extra eight votes from Tuesday’s showing of 46.
But there is no doubt that after three rounds of voting Hunt would have hoped to be the obvious challenger to Johnson, whereas he was only narrowly ahead of Gove, with just three votes in it.
The foreign secretary’s team are conscious that he risks appearing middle-of-the-road, with his rivals dismissing him as 'continuity May', or worse, Theresa in trousers, or 'Tit' for short.
He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes, but Gove overtook him in the fourth round, where Hunt finished third with 59 votes.
Johnson’s progress to Downing Street appeared unstoppable even before last week’s first round of voting among MPs, and most of his colleagues believe it is now all but inevitable that he will be Britain’s next prime minister.Johnson’s progress to Downing Street appeared unstoppable even before last week’s first round of voting among MPs, and most of his colleagues believe it is now all but inevitable that he will be Britain’s next prime minister.
His well-disciplined campaign team will continue with their strategy of subjecting him to minimal media exposure, though once the field is narrowed down to two, the final pair will appear in more than a dozen head-to-head hustings for Tory members. The team’s main aim is simply to keep heads down and avoid Johnson creating headlines for the wrong reasons.His well-disciplined campaign team will continue with their strategy of subjecting him to minimal media exposure, though once the field is narrowed down to two, the final pair will appear in more than a dozen head-to-head hustings for Tory members. The team’s main aim is simply to keep heads down and avoid Johnson creating headlines for the wrong reasons.
Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes. He increased this to 157 votes in the fourth round. Johnson came first in the final round of voting with 160 votes.
Rudd told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I find all this conversation about lending votes rather discrediting of the system. Each MP has a really important responsibility to think about who can deliver us from this real difficulty that we’re in and who will be a prime minister.Rudd told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I find all this conversation about lending votes rather discrediting of the system. Each MP has a really important responsibility to think about who can deliver us from this real difficulty that we’re in and who will be a prime minister.
“I would really call on Boris himself to repudiate the information that’s coming out, friends of Boris saying this, saying one thing. This is a serious moment, we don’t need that sort of game-playing going on in parliament.”“I would really call on Boris himself to repudiate the information that’s coming out, friends of Boris saying this, saying one thing. This is a serious moment, we don’t need that sort of game-playing going on in parliament.”
Responding to a question about whether Johnson would prefer to face Hunt in the final two instead of Gove, Rudd said the foreign secretary was confident about seeing off his predecessor to become prime minister.Responding to a question about whether Johnson would prefer to face Hunt in the final two instead of Gove, Rudd said the foreign secretary was confident about seeing off his predecessor to become prime minister.
She said: “Well, they’re wrong because I know that Jeremy Hunt will make the right case, he’ll be persuasive, and he’ll be able to show that he has the experience and the skills to become the prime minister. So if that’s their view, I say bring it on. I’m longing to see Jeremy in the finals to be able to make the case as the future prime minister.”She said: “Well, they’re wrong because I know that Jeremy Hunt will make the right case, he’ll be persuasive, and he’ll be able to show that he has the experience and the skills to become the prime minister. So if that’s their view, I say bring it on. I’m longing to see Jeremy in the finals to be able to make the case as the future prime minister.”
Speaking an hour before the opening of voting, Hunt said the country was looking at Johnson and asking: “Is there a better alternative?”Speaking an hour before the opening of voting, Hunt said the country was looking at Johnson and asking: “Is there a better alternative?”
The foreign secretary said he was “confident but not overconfident” of advancing to the members’ vote. “I need my supporters to come and say, ‘Yes, we can do better than Boris Johnson as the next prime minister of our country, we can choose someone who the EU are actually going to talk to and get that better Brexit deal,’” he said.The foreign secretary said he was “confident but not overconfident” of advancing to the members’ vote. “I need my supporters to come and say, ‘Yes, we can do better than Boris Johnson as the next prime minister of our country, we can choose someone who the EU are actually going to talk to and get that better Brexit deal,’” he said.
“May the best man win, and that’s going to be me.”“May the best man win, and that’s going to be me.”
As she announced on 24 May, Theresa May stepped down formally as Conservative leader on Friday 7 June, although she remains in place as prime minister until her successor is chosen.As she announced on 24 May, Theresa May stepped down formally as Conservative leader on Friday 7 June, although she remains in place as prime minister until her successor is chosen.
MPs hold a series of votes, in order to narrow down the initially crowded field to two leadership hopefuls.MPs hold a series of votes, in order to narrow down the initially crowded field to two leadership hopefuls.
How does the voting work?How does the voting work?
MPs choose one candidate, in a secret ballot held in a committee room in the House of Commons. The votes are tallied and the results announced on the same day.MPs choose one candidate, in a secret ballot held in a committee room in the House of Commons. The votes are tallied and the results announced on the same day.
In the first round any candidate who won the support of less than 17 MPs was eliminated. In the second round anybody reaching less than 33 votes was eliminated. In subsequent rounds the bottom placed contender drops out until there are only two left. The campaign will conclude on 20 June, with multiple rounds of voting during the day as necessary.In the first round any candidate who won the support of less than 17 MPs was eliminated. In the second round anybody reaching less than 33 votes was eliminated. In subsequent rounds the bottom placed contender drops out until there are only two left. The campaign will conclude on 20 June, with multiple rounds of voting during the day as necessary.
When will the results be announced?When will the results be announced?
Once MPs have whittled down the field to two, Conservative party HQ takes over the running of the next stage, the postal ballot of members. It says this will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.Once MPs have whittled down the field to two, Conservative party HQ takes over the running of the next stage, the postal ballot of members. It says this will be completed in the week beginning Monday 22 July.
Andrea Jenkyns, a Brexiter MP who is backing Johnson, told ITV’s Peston programme on Wednesday night that there would be “some poetic justice” if the bitter rivals were in the final runoff. She said that although there were “tricks going on” in the contest, Johnson’s campaign was not to blame.Andrea Jenkyns, a Brexiter MP who is backing Johnson, told ITV’s Peston programme on Wednesday night that there would be “some poetic justice” if the bitter rivals were in the final runoff. She said that although there were “tricks going on” in the contest, Johnson’s campaign was not to blame.
Rory Stewart's exit means the Tories have now given up on reality | Jonathan LisRory Stewart's exit means the Tories have now given up on reality | Jonathan Lis
Gove said: “I do think I would be a better prime minister than Boris.” But, he added, “he has formidable qualities and he is a big part of the Conservative party’s and the country’s future”. While Johnson had “communication skills aplenty”, the environment secretary told LBC that he believed he would be better equipped than any of the other candidates to take Jeremy Corbyn “to the cleaners” with a “forensic” examination of his policies.Gove said: “I do think I would be a better prime minister than Boris.” But, he added, “he has formidable qualities and he is a big part of the Conservative party’s and the country’s future”. While Johnson had “communication skills aplenty”, the environment secretary told LBC that he believed he would be better equipped than any of the other candidates to take Jeremy Corbyn “to the cleaners” with a “forensic” examination of his policies.
Rory Stewart was eliminated in the third round of voting on Wednesday as Johnson substantially increased his tally of supporters to 143, compared with Hunt on 54 and Gove on 51.Rory Stewart was eliminated in the third round of voting on Wednesday as Johnson substantially increased his tally of supporters to 143, compared with Hunt on 54 and Gove on 51.
Javid, who leapfrogged Stewart to stay in the race, is expected to be knocked out in the first round of voting on Thursday. The contest between Gove and Hunt to make the ballot paper for Conservative members will depend on their ability to win support from MPs who backed eliminated candidates.Javid, who leapfrogged Stewart to stay in the race, is expected to be knocked out in the first round of voting on Thursday. The contest between Gove and Hunt to make the ballot paper for Conservative members will depend on their ability to win support from MPs who backed eliminated candidates.
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Amber RuddAmber Rudd
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Jeremy HuntJeremy Hunt
Michael GoveMichael Gove
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