The winners and losers from today’s Tory leadership vote

The names of the final four candidates left in the Tory leadership contest are in. Mel Stride has been eliminated from the contest, with just 16 MP backers. That leaves Robert Jenrick, who leads with 33 backers, Kemi Badenoch in second on 28 MPs and James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat who are tied in third place with 21 backers each. The four leadership hopefuls will now head to party conference where they will use the four-day event to try to prove to their parliamentary colleagues and the grassroots that they have what it takes to lead the party in opposition.

Stride’s exit was largely expected. As I reported previously, the shadow work and pensions secretary’s decision to enter the race was met with scepticism by some of his parliamentary colleagues. There was little sign that he would do well with the membership, with one poll putting him on two per cent.