There are three candidates still in the running to replace Rishi Sunak with another due to be knocked out on Wednesday.
James Cleverly has surged ahead to become the bookmakers’ favourite after he urged party members to be “more normal” and “sell Conservatism with a smile” during a speech at the party’s conference last week.
At the last round of voting on Tuesday, the shadow Home Secretary came out on top with receiving 39 votes from fellow Tory MPs. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick was second with 31 votes, followed by shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch with 30.
Another two candidates will be knocked out this week before the Tory party membership vote and the new leader is officially announced on November 2.
Here’s what you need to know about the remaining candidates.
Conservative Party leadership candidate James Cleverly
PA Wire
Mr Cleverly, 55, was the first out of the gate, announcing he would run for leader the day before nominations opened. Some bookmakers had him as …