A Kent MP remains in the race to be the next leader of the Conservative party.

It comes as Mel Stride was the latest candidate to be eliminated from the contest this evening – leaving Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge since 2015, still in the running.

The shadow security minister is now competing against Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly to be the new leader of the Tories.

The MP for Devon, Mr Stride, became the second MP to exit the race after Dame Priti Patel received the lowest number of votes in the first ballot last week.

The result of today's vote is as follows:

Robert Jenrick – 33

Kemi Badenoch – 28

Tom Tugendhat – 21

James Cleverly – 21

Mel Stride – 16 (eliminated)

The final four contenders will now head to Birmingham for the Tory party conference later this month, holding a hustings as they attempt to win over the party faithful.

MPs then have one more vote before the field is cut down to two candidates. The wider membership will then decides on their winner.

Following the announcement of the latest ballot, Mr Tugdenhat posted on X: “Mel, thank you for running such a great campaign.

“You’ve shown our party has the economic vision and ideas that we need to win.

“Your campaign is one that all Conservatives can be proud of.”

Speaking to Sky News following news of the latest candidate to be axed, Harriet Cross, MP for Gordon and Buchan said she is “delighted” that her chosen candidate, Mr Tugendhat, has made it through to the next round.

Ms Cross rejected the notion that moderate Tory MPs are not drawn to the Kent MP saying: “I think there's actually quite a big split between the whole party.”

She pointed to former MP Steve Baker, notoriously on the right of the party, supporting him, and renowned moderate and fellow Kent MP Damian Green also on the team.

"Tom is a unity candidate and can bring everyone across, and has done that," she added.

Last month, Mr Tugendhat said the Conservatives lost the general election because they failed to lower migration and taxes.

Speaking on the Kent Politics Podcast, Mr Tugendhat launched a scathing attack on the new administration and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first two months in charge.

The former army officer claimed Labour is planning to raise taxes, will “overload” state schools and has removed the deterrent to small boat crossing across the Channel.

Mr Tugendhat also accused the government of cronyism by installing supporters and donors into the heart of the Downing Street machine.

In a candid interview about why the Conservative Party was removed from office, the former security minister said last month: “I think there were many areas that went wrong.

“Fundamentally, we failed to deliver on lowering migration and lowering taxes but there were many other areas we were extremely effective.

“We can look at this historically if you like. We have got to bring back integrity to politics and we have got to bring back honesty to politics.

“That is why I am quite worried about what Keir Starmer has already started doing.”

Conservative 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.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Tories whittled down a list of five people who played key roles in 14 years of chaos and decline, to four people who played key roles in 14 years of chaos and decline.

“Their failure to take responsibility for the mess they made, demonstrates that none of these candidates are cut out for the job.

“They’ve learnt nothing from their mistakes, and as they continue to fight amongst themselves, Labour is getting on with the job of fixing the terrible inheritance they left behind.”