James Cleverly eliminated from Tory leadership race

Conservative Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has been eliminated from the race to become leader of the party.

Shadow Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick have made it through to the final stage.

The wider party membership will vote over the coming weeks, with the winner due to be announced on 2 November.

After a fourth round of voting by MPs this afternoon, Kemi Badenoch received 42 votes, Robert Jenrick received 41 votes and James Cleverly received 37 votes.

Mr Cleverly's elimination was met with surprise by fellow Conservative MPs, many of whom expected that he would make it through to the final round.

The shadow Home Secretary had been in the lead after yesterday's vote.

He was also praised by many of his fellow MPs following his speech at the Conservative party conference last week.

Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick are both seen as candidates favoured by the right of the Conservative party, while Mr Cleverly was thought of as a more centre-ground Tory.

The latest result has upset many predictions in Westminster and beyond, as Mr Cleverly was seen as the bookmakers' favourite to win the contest after yesterday's round of voting.

Following his elimination from the leadership contest, Mr Cleverly said: "I'm grateful for the support I've received on this campaign from colleagues, party members and the public."

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he added: "Sadly it wasn't to be. We are all Conservatives and it's important the Conservative Party unites to take on this catastrophic Labour Government."

Additional reporting PA