A Kent MP has been eliminated from the Conservative leadership contest in the third round of voting by MPs.

Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat was among the four contenders to replace Rishi Sunak, however James Cleverly has now surged into first place.

Mr Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, secured the support of just 20 of his fellow MPs while former Home Secretary James Cleverly received 39 votes after what had been seen as a strong performance at last week’s party conference.

Former front-runner Robert Jenrick fell to second place with 31 votes, one ahead of Kemi Badenoch.

MPs will hold a further ballot tomorrow (October 9) to decide the final two candidates, who will then go forward to a vote by Conservative Party members.

The winner of that vote will be announced on November 2.

Mr Tugendhat previously told KentOnline he wants to bring back honesty and integrity to British politics.

Recently in the Telegraph, Mr Tugendhat, who has represented Tonbridge since 2015, said that the party was “rejected at the ballot box” and that people wanted “leadership that puts the country first.”