Boris Johnson wins most second round votes on path to become UK PM
Boris Johnson has increased his lead in the race to become Britain's next prime minister, as one of his rivals was eliminated from the contest. Five contenders in all were still in the running after a second-round ballot of Conservative lawmakers on Tuesday. Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab failed to reach the threshold of 33 votes needed to go on to the next round.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 09:15 | 18 June 2019
- Modified Date: 09:17 | 18 June 2019
Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May, won the most votes cast in the second round of voting for Conservative Party leader on Tuesday, with four other candidates also getting through.
Johnson, a former London mayor and foreign minister, won 126 votes, with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in second place on 46 votes and environment minister Michael Gove third with 41 votes.
The international development minister Rory Stewart was fourth on 37 votes and the interior minister Sajid Javid was fifth on 33 votes.
One candidate -- former Brexit minister Dominic Raab -- was eliminated after he failed to receive the required minimum of 33 votes.
Now the remaining candidates will face further votes to whittle down the contest to two, when Conservative members will decide who will become leader, and Britain's next prime minister.