from Truss has gained more supporters after the race to become the next Tory party leader and Prime Minister was reduced to five.
Suella Bravermanwho was knocked out by 27 votes in the second round, supported current third-runner Ms Truss, saying she would be “the best person to unite the party”.
She urged all MPs who supported her to transfer their votes to Ms Truss’s campaign, which officially kicked off Thursday and won 64 votes in the second ballot.
Steve Baker MP, who led Mrs Braverman’s campaign, has promised to turn his support over to whoever she wants.
Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister, has also appealed to Kemi Badenochwho took fourth in Thursday’s vote to step aside for the secretary of state and called for “unity among free marketers.”
Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt remained in the top two places after the second ballot, on Thursday, with 101 votes and 83 votes respectively.
The next round of voting will take place on Monday, with candidates hoping that TV debates, the first of which will take place on Friday, can boost their campaigns.
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Former Tory leader says the question for candidates is ‘who can deliver Brexit benefits?’
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who backs Liz Truss in the Tory leadership race, said Friday the key question for candidates was: “What have you done to bring the benefits of Brexit to a country that chose to join the European Union? leave? “
He told LBC: “We can’t just pick anyone because they might look better than others for a short period of time.
“What we actually choose is in a sense not a popularity contest.
“We’re choosing someone who will probably have to rule for two years with a huge series of crises.”
Lord Frost urges Badenoch to step aside and support Truss
Former Brexit minister Lord Frost has urged Kemi Badenoch to withdraw from the contest and support Liz Truss.
“Kemi and Suella Braverman put on convincing programs, with different accents, for change,” the 57-year-old wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
“But Liz’s deep experience, her energy and ideas – as well as the simple fact that she has the most voices of the three – allowed her to take the lead.
However, Ms Badenoch’s campaign has resisted pressure to reject her leadership attempt to prevent Rishi Sunak or Penny Mordaunt from winning the keys to number 10.
Her spokesperson said: “Kemi has brought interesting ideas and a new approach to this leadership competition. She is looking forward to the debates this weekend.
“She has no intention of stepping down and intends to win.”
Summary: Where are leadership candidates after the second ballot?
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the latest in British politics and the Conservative leadership race. As a recap, here’s where the candidates stand after Thursday’s second ballot.
– Rishi Sunak – 101 votes
– Penny Mordaunt – 83
– Liz Truss – 64
– Kemi Badenoch – 49
– Tom Tugendhat – 32
Suella Braverman was eliminated after receiving the lowest number of nominations on the ballot and urged her supporters to get behind Liz Truss. The next vote is Monday.