Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt final two as MPs edge closer to Downing Street - as it happened

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Who could replace Theresa May as Tory leader?

Jeremy Hunt narrowly beat Michael Gove in the final ballot of Tory MPs, and will now go head-to-head with Boris Johnson in the run-off.

Mr Hunt, the foreign secretary, won 77 votes to Mr Gove's 75, while Mr Johnson maintained a commanding lead and finished with 160 votes.

Sajid Javid was eliminated from the race earlier in the day, but declined to endorse any of the other candidates.

As it happened...

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Key Points

• Jeremy Hunt beats Michael Gove to second stage of Tory leadership race...
• ...after Sajid Javid eliminated from contest
• Rumours of dirty tricks after Boris Johnson's total increases by just three from previous round
• Dutch prime minister says no-deal Brexit would leave UK a 'diminished' country

[20 June 2019 10:20 · Samuel Osborne]

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who supports Mr Johnson, said any "dirty tricks" vote transfer campaign by supporters of the former foreign secretary to try and knock Mr Gove out of the contest would be "silly".

Mr Rees-Mogg told the Press Association: "I think people should always vote for the candidate they support. It is really silly to try and game elections because you can find that your candidate then loses. Vote for the candidate you support is what I have been saying on my side of the argument."

[20 June 2019 10:33 · Samuel Osborne]

Michael Gove was challenged to praise his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt in the Commons.

Vicky Ford, the Tory MP for Chelmsford, invited the environment secretary to join her in recognising the foreign secretary's "amazing diplomatic success" in trying to secure a climate change conference.

Mr Gove, in his reply, joked: "The foreign secretary has done an outstanding job on the diplomatic stage and continues to do so, and will continue to do so by making sure that we co-operate with our partners across western Europe, including Italy, to ensure the Conference of Parties in 2020 brings nations together in order to deal with this global challenge."

[20 June 2019 10:36 · Samuel Osborne]

The Evening Standard has announced it is backing Mr Johnson for prime minister.

[20 June 2019 10:40 · Samuel Osborne]

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn is outside of the room where voting is taking place. He writes:

Voting has started in the fourth round of the Conservative leadership contest — as he left the room Michael Gove said Tory MP Michael Fabricant was his “defence against the dark arts”.

[20 June 2019 10:44 · Samuel Osborne]

As he left the room, Mr Hunt said he was “confident - but not over confident” when asked about making the final two, Ashley Cowburn reports.

[20 June 2019 10:51 · Samuel Osborne]

Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader who backs Mr Johnson, told the Press Association: "I have been here long enough to know that the only dirty tricks is that MPs never tell you always the truth when it comes to leadership elections. They are unorganisable."

[20 June 2019 10:54 · Samuel Osborne]

[20 June 2019 11:00 · Samuel Osborne]

Ashley Cowburn: Boris Johnson was asked how he celebrated his 55th birthday yesterday as he left the voting room. “In style,” he replied.

[20 June 2019 11:01 · Samuel Osborne]

Asked if he knew anything about dark arts when he arrived to vote, Mr Johnson said: "No."

[20 June 2019 11:06 · Samuel Osborne]

Asked if there was a "dirty tricks" campaign against him, Mr Gove told the Press Association: "I know there is a campaign for me with wonderful, wonderful people."

He added: "I'm looking forward to being in the final two as a result of the strong support I have across the party."