UK PM race: Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt to contest Conservative leadership; Michael Gove eliminated in final ballot
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Earlier on Thursday, Sajid Javid was eliminated after he managed the least number of votes(34) as the race for next prime minister of Britain entered a decisive stage.
The British Conservative Party today picked foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt to take on Boris Johnson for the post of prime minister while eliminating MP Michael Gove in the fifth and final ballot on Thursday evening.
I'm the underdog - but in politics surprises happen as they did today. I do not doubt the responsibility on my shoulders - to show my party how we deliver Brexit and not an election, but also a turbo-charged economy and a country that walks tall in the world
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019
Gove who had won 61 votes to edge out Hunt who managed 59 votes in the fourth ballot held earlier in the day saw his fortunes dip in the final ballot falling short by two votes winning 75 to Hunt's final tally of 77 votes.
Former London Mayor Boris Johnson who has been the frontrunner in all five ballots extended his lead to win 160 votes after having bagged 157 Conservative votes earlier.
Count me in! Really looking forward to a debate of ideas with my colleague @Jeremy_Hunt on @ITV https://t.co/F1TqYHoVKQ
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 20, 2019
Earlier on Thursday, Sajid Javid was eliminated after he managed the least number of votes(34) as the race for next prime minister of Britain entered a decisive stage.
The prime ministerial candidate will be picked next month through a ballot by 160,000 Conservative Party members.
The final two candidates will face 16 hustings meetings around the UK and two televised debates before Tory party members will pick their leader to head the country.