Matt Hancock has become the first leadership candidate to bow out of the race following the first secret ballot. In Thursday’s vote, Hancock came sixth – winning 20 votes. Announcing his decision, Hancock said he was ‘hugely grateful’ for the support he had received but had concluded now was not his time as the ‘party is understandably looking for a candidate for the unique circumstances we face right now’:
‘I have therefore decided to withdraw from this contest, and I will look for the best way to advance the values we fought for, of free enterprise, and an open, aspirational, free society, underpinned by an optimistic belief in the value of each individual person.’
With rumours swirling since Thursday afternoon that Hancock would quit the contest, there had been talk that he would endorse Sajid Javid. Javid held a meeting in Parliament with Hancock following the vote.
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