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Tory leadership: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are final two Tory leadership: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are final two
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Hunt has promised Boris Johnson "the fight of his life" as the two compete to become the next Conservative leader and PM.Jeremy Hunt has promised Boris Johnson "the fight of his life" as the two compete to become the next Conservative leader and PM.
Mr Johnson said he was "honoured" to get the backing of 160 MPs in the final ballot of the party's MPs - more than half of the total.Mr Johnson said he was "honoured" to get the backing of 160 MPs in the final ballot of the party's MPs - more than half of the total.
Mr Hunt got 77 votes - two more votes than the next candidate Michael Gove.Mr Hunt got 77 votes - two more votes than the next candidate Michael Gove.
Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt now face a vote involving up to 160,000 Tory members, with a result due by late July.Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt now face a vote involving up to 160,000 Tory members, with a result due by late July.
All 313 Conservative MPs took part in the final ballot in the House of Commons, with one paper spoilt.All 313 Conservative MPs took part in the final ballot in the House of Commons, with one paper spoilt.
Mr Johnson's victory in the latest round of the contest had been widely expected, but Environment Secretary Mr Gove and Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt had been engaged for several days in a fight for second place.Mr Johnson's victory in the latest round of the contest had been widely expected, but Environment Secretary Mr Gove and Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt had been engaged for several days in a fight for second place.
In the penultimate MPs' ballot, earlier on Thursday, Mr Gove overtook his rival, only to see his lead reversed in the final vote.In the penultimate MPs' ballot, earlier on Thursday, Mr Gove overtook his rival, only to see his lead reversed in the final vote.
There were suggestions that Team Boris saw Mr Hunt as an easier candidate to beat and that some of his supporters lent votes to the current foreign secretary to help him see off Mr Gove's ambitions. There's no doubt that Mr Johnson is, at this stage (and there's a long way to go), widely expected to end up in Number 10.
A key Johnson aide denied this - but said he couldn't speak for others. And with Mr Johnson's own vote going up and demonstrating momentum, it's a difficult charge to prove. But this result is an enormous relief to his camp, for the simple reason that they think Mr Hunt is easier to beat.
So there is only one Leaver in the contest. Forget any differences in style between the two challengers and their comparative talents - Jeremy Hunt voted Remain in the EU referendum.
But Mr Hunt will portray himself as a born-again Brexiteer, who would contemplate no deal - and, as an apparently more competent minister, someone who also has more chance of delivering a deal. And for many Tory members it is a priority for the next leader to have been committed to that cause, rather than a recent convert, however zealous.
Read Iain's analysis in full Read Laura's blog in full
Before the final vote, a source close to Mr Hunt warned against reigniting the "personal psychodrama" between Mr Gove and Mr Johnson - who spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign together in 2016, but fell out after Mr Gove abandoned Mr Johnson's previous leadership bid to launch his own.Before the final vote, a source close to Mr Hunt warned against reigniting the "personal psychodrama" between Mr Gove and Mr Johnson - who spearheaded the Vote Leave campaign together in 2016, but fell out after Mr Gove abandoned Mr Johnson's previous leadership bid to launch his own.
Following the result of the final ballot, read out by Caroline Spelman, co-chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs, Mr Johnson said he was "deeply honoured" by his level of support.Following the result of the final ballot, read out by Caroline Spelman, co-chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs, Mr Johnson said he was "deeply honoured" by his level of support.
Meanwhile, Mr Hunt, acknowledged Mr Johnson as frontrunner to become party leader and prime minister, tweeting that he was the "underdog" but in politics "surprises happen".Meanwhile, Mr Hunt, acknowledged Mr Johnson as frontrunner to become party leader and prime minister, tweeting that he was the "underdog" but in politics "surprises happen".
He went on to praise Mr Gove as one of the "brightest stars in the Conservative team", adding: "We are going to give Boris the fight of his life."He went on to praise Mr Gove as one of the "brightest stars in the Conservative team", adding: "We are going to give Boris the fight of his life."
Mr Gove congratulated his rivals and said he was "naturally disappointed but so proud of the campaign we ran".Mr Gove congratulated his rivals and said he was "naturally disappointed but so proud of the campaign we ran".
His campaign manager, Mel Stride, said he believed that Mr Gove's admission that he had taken cocaine during the 1990s had damaged his bid, adding: "It stalled us and meant momentum was lost at that time."His campaign manager, Mel Stride, said he believed that Mr Gove's admission that he had taken cocaine during the 1990s had damaged his bid, adding: "It stalled us and meant momentum was lost at that time."
Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt will now take part in hustings in front of Conservative Party members around the country, before the votes are counted, with the final result to be announced during the week of 22 July.Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt will now take part in hustings in front of Conservative Party members around the country, before the votes are counted, with the final result to be announced during the week of 22 July.
They will also take part in a head-to-head debate on ITV on 9 July, following previous leadership debates hosted by Channel 4 and the BBC.They will also take part in a head-to-head debate on ITV on 9 July, following previous leadership debates hosted by Channel 4 and the BBC.
Labour's national campaigns co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne said: "What a choice: the man who broke the NHS or the man who wants to sell it to Donald Trump.Labour's national campaigns co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne said: "What a choice: the man who broke the NHS or the man who wants to sell it to Donald Trump.
"A handful of unrepresentative Conservative members should not be choosing our next prime minister. People should decide through a general election.""A handful of unrepresentative Conservative members should not be choosing our next prime minister. People should decide through a general election."
The ballot of MPs earlier on Thursday saw Home Secretary Sajid Javid eliminated from the contest.The ballot of MPs earlier on Thursday saw Home Secretary Sajid Javid eliminated from the contest.