The results of the second ballot are in and it’s Dominic Raab who has been knocked out of the race. Boris Johnson cemented his lead going from 114 votes to 126. Brexiteer Raab meanwhile failed to win the 33 votes required – only mustering 30. As for the Cabinet candidates, there is still little difference in support between the top candidates. Rory Stewart managed the largest increase going from 19 votes in the first round to 37:
Michal Gove: 41
Jeremy Hunt: 46
Sajid Javid: 33
Boris Johnson: 126
Dominic Raab: 30
Rory Stewart: 37
So, what does the result mean for the overall contest? Johnson continues to look unassailable. What’s more, the fact that Raab is out of the race ought to give Johnson more breathing space both in terms of tonight’s BBC debate – and the overall contest. There was a sense amongst Johnson allies that going up against a fellow Brexiteer in the final two for the membership hustings would be a tougher task than going against a candidate who backed Remain.
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