Dame Priti Patel voted out of in first round of Conservative leadership contest as Robert Jenrick tops ballot

The former Home Secretary only received 14 votes from 121 Tory MPs, while the former immigration minister won 28 votes, followed by Kemi Badenoch 22, James Cleverly 21, Tom Tugendhat 17, and Mel Stride 16.

The results came after MPs cast their opening votes on Wednesday afternoon, reducing the number of candidates from six to five. Another candidate is expected to leave before the party conference begins later this month.

A hustings will then be held and MPs will vote to narrow the field down to two. Party members will then vote, with the winner announced on November 2.

Shadow communities secretary Mrs Badenoch claimed the result of the first round of voting showed there was “huge support” for her campaign. She added: “It’s time to deal with hard truths today, rather than big problems tomorrow. I look forward to making the case for renewal around the country, with colleagues and members.”

Mr Tugendhat said it was a “privilege” to have made it through the first round and paid tribute to eliminated candidate Dame Priti. He added: “Mel, James, Kemi and Robert are all friends and good Conservatives. However, only I can deliver the Conservative revolution that our party and our nation need.”

Mr Cleverly said “momentum” was on his campaign’s side, adding: “We can only unite our party with Conservative values and I am ready to lead, and win, the next general election.”

A Labour party spokesperson meanwhile said Tories had “successfully slimmed down the pool of contenders from six people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline, to five people who each played their hand in 14 years of chaos and decline”.

They added: “From what we have seen so far, not one of them is prepared to learn from the lessons of the past. It is a damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party that these candidates are the best they have to offer.”