The candidates needed to secure at least 33 votes in the second ballot held tonight in order to progress to the next round. Boris Johnson, who has been the frontrunner to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May throughout the race, soared ahead with 126 votes. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was in second place on 46 votes and environment minister Michael Gove came third with 41 votes.

The international development minister Rory Stewart was fourth on 37 votes and the interior minister Sajid Javid was fifth on 33 votes.

But former Brexit minister Dominic Raab was eliminated after he received 30.

This was less than the required minimum of 33 votes.

There was no rest for the winning candidates as they immediately took part in a live debate on BBC One at 8pm.

Here are some of their best lines from the debate, but who do you think won the debate? 

BORIS JOHNSON

Boris Johnson talked about his comments on muslim women looking like letter boxes and said “I’m sorry or the offence they’ve caused”.

He also reminded viewers his great-grandfather was Muslim and said he would be “astonished” his son could be the next Prime Minister. 

JEREMY HUNT

Jeremy Hunt talked of his family and his children going to school “looking different than the others.

He added: “We are one of the most open outward-looking tolerant countries in the planet”.

He was referring to his wife, who is from China and their three children.

MICHAEL GOVE

Michael Gove said his life “started in care”, when asked what he would do to reverse cuts that have affected children.

Michael Gove said he plans to replace VAT with more flexible sales tax.

He said he most understands working class people as his dad lost his small business and his mum was shop assistant.

Jeremy Corbyn “isn’t interested in helping working people”, he added.

RORY STEWART

During the debate, Rory Stewart says MPs must do what the public wanted, but they also owe people “trust”.

He added it will not be possible to negotiate a new deal by October 31, as it will take a long time to get a new deal.

SAJID JAVID

Sajid Javid says it is “essential that we act on those instructions” from the British people. “They are our bosses.”

He says it is fundamental that Brexit must happen by 31 October and rules out an extension beyond that. 

Despite an eventful day, there’s still a long way to go in the leadership contest.

On June 22, the final pair of candidates will begin their hustings events in front of all paid-up grassroots Conservative Party members.

There were 124,000 members as of March 2018 and they will all get the final vote between the two candidates.

The hustings should begin in Birmingham, before moving on to all other regions of the country.

Conservative Party members are expected to have been asked to submit their postal ballot of favoured candidate by 5pm on July 22.

The winning candidate – and new Prime Minister – is expected to be announced the following day by the 1922 Committee.

This may also be the date Theresa May visits the Queen to resign as Prime Minister.

She will then hand over to her successor.

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