Just Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak left in race to become next Prime Minister as Penny Mordaunt fails to get votes

The final round of voting on 20th July 2022 gave Penny Mordaunt only 105 votes, making her the lowest of the three left in the race. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss move forward to battle it out for the role of Prime Minister, with the final result to be announced on September 5th.  Some had previously compared her to Boris Johnson in a wig. No one wanted history repeating?

Penny is, interestingly enough, a former magician's assistant but has been a Member of Parliament since 2010 and a former Royal Navy reservist. She also became the first female defence secretary in 2019. But she couldn't work her magic this time.

Penny is the Minister of State and was viewed within the party as having good leadership qualities. Before the voting began she was second favourite in the party after favourite Rishi Sunak to get the role, but now the final two have been decided and the battle is on.

As Boris Johnson announced his departure from office on 7th July, members of the Conservative party began plotting their journey to the top. Despite Boris stating he would stay on until Autumn when a new leader would take over, many MPs would have liked him ousted immediately.

After the vote on 14th July 2022 to replace Boris Johnson as PM, the UK said goodbye to Nadhim Zahawi, one of the strong contenders for the Tories couldn't make the cut. We also said goodbye to Jeremy Hunt and Suella Braverman.

He was favourite among conservative centrists. Although perhaps this was a stumbling block as many back bench Tories have shifted to the right recently.

He never really had experience in the top spot. In fact, he has no cabinet or shadow cabinet experience, this could have worked in his favour as he was not a part of Johnston’s disastrous tenure. But he received only 31 votes on 18th July and was ousted from the race.

“I am putting together a broad coalition of colleagues that will bring new energy and ideas to government and, finally, to bridge the Brexit divide that has dominated our recent history," the former soldier wrote in The Daily Telegraph. A distant dream?

Kami Badenoch only received 59 votes in the previous round of voting by the Tory MPS which took place on 19th July 2022. She got the lowest number of votes and was kicked out of the race. To put it into perspective, Rishi Sunak received 118.

She left with her head held high. Kemi took to Twitter to show how far she had come in this campaign and thanked those who supported her. Those who did back Ms Badenoch seemed to have change their votes to back Liz Truss.

Photo: Twitter @KemiBadenoch

From fringe candidate to contender. Born in Wimbledon, her parents are of Nigerian origin and Kemi (left in the photo) has also spent time there as well as Lagos and the USA.

Badenoch (right in the photo) worked as a system analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland, before pursuing a career in consultancy and financial services.

Kemi Badenoch joined the Conservative Party at 25 and cited her personal heroes as the Conservative politicians Winston Churchill, Airey Neave and Margaret Thatcher. Her journey for the top spot ended, but we are sure that's not the last of Kemi Badenoch.

There are two players left in the race. The difference in the odds between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are difficult to tell. They are so close in the bookies' eyes - and in the conservatives' eyes too. Despite Sunak gaining 137 and Truss 113 votes - many think Truss will grab the position at the end.

Previously Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position he had held since February 2020. Sunak resigned his position ahead of Johnson's resignation announcement.

This 41 year old, dapper MP is said to be very popular (he is affectionately known as 'Dishy Rishi') though happily married with two children, although his wife had been attacked by the media and public for her tax status. Sunak studied at Oxford University.

Rishi supported Boris Johnson in his original bid for leadership but, according to the Mirror, now has a team set up in a Westminster hotel to kickstart his bid for the running.

He has very mixed support. Rishi was praised during the first lockdown for supporting some workers with paid furlough but faced criticism for his handling of inflation and tax rises.

Odds for Sunak taking the big job is 5/4. An overall 44.% likely chance to become the next PM Rishi Sunak is the platform’s most likely candidate. (betting odds.com)

Currently Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (The Foreign Secretary). She was almost 8,000 miles away in Bali at the time Boris announced his resignation. According to Daily Mail, she cut the meeting short to fly back to London in order to get her name in the runnings to succeed Boris Johnson.

Elizabeth is well liked by members of the Conservative Party and was known in her early years as the “human hand grenade.” Apparently she had a tendency to 'blow things up.'

Despite being in the Conservative Party she had very left-wing parents, went to a comprehensive school and her mother took her on peace marches when she was a child. Truss, like Rishi Sunak, went to Oxford University.

Liz’s career, though, almost came to an abrupt end after members found out – and objected to – her affair with another MP.

She is well known for hosting social events for MPs, occasions which have become known as “fizz with Liz” - though some say that she doesn't use this term herself.

Some members of the public say that Truss’ bid for the leadership was made known too early and there are already rumours of a deal between other candidates to keep her out. She hasn't won the hearts of the British public in recent months either. Her odds have since majorly improved since Kemi was ousted, coming in with a 30.8% chance of getting the job (betting odds.com).