UK PM race: Boris Johnson consolidates lead in third ballot, Rory Stewart eliminated

WION Web Team

LondonUpdated: Jun 19, 2019, 11:23 PM IST

File photo of Boris Johnson. Photograph:(Reuters)

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International Development Secretary Rory Stewart who was eliminated in the race won 27 votes.

Britain's ruling Conservative Party on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly for Boris Johnson in the third ballot eliminating another rival MP Rory Stewart in the race for UK's next prime minister.

Johnson who was the frontrunner in the previous two ballots won 143 votes, followed by British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt who won 54 votes, Michael Gove winning 51 votes and London Mayor Sadiq Khan getting 38 votes.

Thank you once again to friends and colleagues for your support in the third ballot - especially on my birthday! We’ve come a long way but we have much further to go.

Join the #BackBoris team 👉 https://t.co/tGRXu94CmT pic.twitter.com/p5ImzGTKDf
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 19, 2019

International Development Secretary Rory Stewart who was eliminated in the race won 27 votes.

I am so moved & inspired by the support I have received over the last few weeks - it has given me a new faith in politics, a new belief in our country. I didn’t get enough MPs to believe today - but they will 🙂 I remain deeply committed to you and to this country. #RoryWalksOn
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) June 19, 2019

Ex-minister Dominic Raab was knocked out in the second ballot on Tuesday.

He won 30 votes short of the 33-vote threshold needed to stay in the race. Johnson had got 126 votes to lead the race. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt came second in the previous round, with 46 votes.

Raab later backed Johnson declaring that he was the only candidate who would deliver Brexit by October 31.