Stride clings on in Tory leadership bid
The Central Devon MP beat eliminated candidate Priti Patel by two votes
Central Devon MP Mel Stride remains in the Tory leadership race after narrowly beating Dame Priti Patel.
He secured 16 votes in the first ballot of MPs, with the former Home Secretary being eliminated after getting fourteen.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick picked up 28 votes, with bookmakers' favourite Kemi Badenoch in second place on 22.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly was one vote behind on 21, with shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat on 17.
Another round of voting will take place next week before the final four take their campaigns to the Tory conference starting on September 29.
After that, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for the party's grassroots to choose between, with the result of the members' ballot announced on November 2.