ROBERT Jenrick surged into the lead in the Tory leadership race – with Kemi Badenoch hot on his heels.
The ex-Cabinet Minister picked up 28 votes with second-placed Kemi on 22 votes.
Ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel was knocked out of the contest picking up just 14 votes.
Tom Tugendhat picked up 17 votes with Mel Stride winning over 16 MPs.
Candidates Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Mel Stride, Priti Patel, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat have all been courting MP votes in recent weeks.
Tory MPs voted for the first time today on who should be the next leader after Rishi Sunak decided to stand down as leader.
The party crashed to a humiliating defeat in July’s election and only returned some 121 MPs.
Four candidates will take part in a ‘beauty contest’ at this month’s Tory party conference in Birmingham.
They will directly speak to members at the annual rally before two more candidates are knocked out by MPs.
The final two will then tour the country in a final attempt to win over members before votes are cast.
There has been disquiet among Tory MPs that they want a new leader in place before the November result is announced.
Many MPs want the next Tory leader to be in office ready to respond to the Budget which takes place on October 30.
