BORIS Johnson will face Jeremy Hunt in the final round of the Tory leadership contest after MPs narrowly rejected the prospect of Michael Gove as Prime Minister.
The former mayor of London won the support of more than half of the parliamentary party.
Hunt only secured his second place after edging out Gove by just two votes.
The fate of the country is now in the hands of around 124,000, mostly white, male, middle-aged, middle-class Tory party members, the majority of whom live in the south of England.
Over the next few weeks they will pick their preferred candidate, with the winner becoming the UK’s next Prime Minister.
The contest is Johnson’s to win, with polls showing members overwhelmingly backing the Brexit supporting former foreign secretary over the Remainer current Foreign Secretary.
The ballot of members is the final stage in what has been a lengthy and bitter leadership contest, and the new tenant in Number 10 should be announced in the week beginning July 22.
There were two rounds of voting yesterday, with Sajid Javid being eliminated in the first.
In a statement, the Home Secretary said it had been a “great privilege to promote my vision for the country” over the last couple of weeks.
He said if his “ambition and conduct” in the contest had “set an example for anyone, then it has been more than worth it.” He added: “This is my message to those children growing up as I did. To kids who look and feel a bit different to their classmates. Those who don’t have many toys or private tutors.
“Those who feel like outsiders and wonder whether ‘opportunity’ is just for other people.
“Work hard, have faith in your abilities, and don’t let anyone try and cut you down to size or say you aren’t a big enough figure to aim high.”
In the fifth and final round of voting, Johnson won the support of 160 MPs, putting him far ahead of Hunt who won 77. Gove only narrowly missed out, winning the support of just 75 MPs.
Incredibly, one Tory MP managed to spoil their ballot.
Taking to Twitter, Gove said: “Naturally disappointed but so proud of the campaign we ran. Huge thanks to my brilliant campaign team. It’s been an honour to be able to set out a vision for the future of our great country. Many congratulations to Boris and Jeremy!”
Johnson tweeted: “I’m deeply honoured to have secured more than 50 per cent of the vote in the final ballot. Thank you to everyone for your support! I look forward to getting out across the UK and to set out my plan to deliver Brexit, unite our country, and create a brighter future for all of us.”
Hunt wrote: “I’m the underdog – but in politics surprises happen as they did today. I do not doubt the responsibility on my shoulders – to show my party how we deliver Brexit and not an election, but also a turbo-charged economy and a country that walks tall in the world.”
They will first have to face 16 hustings events for party members, the first taking place on Sunday in Birmingham.
They will also take part in a live head-to-head televised debate on ITV on July 9.
Brexit will almost certainly dominate, with the two men holding different views on what should happen on the October 31 deadline.
Hunt has said he won’t “set a hard stop” and “be forced into no deal”.
Johnson, however, has said that the has UK “got to be out by October 31.”
“If we have to get out on what is called no-deal terms, or [World Trade Organization] terms, then it is our absolute responsibility to prepare for it,” he said.
But some Brexiteers believe Johnson has softened his position, saying on Tuesday that leaving on Halloween would be “eminently feasible”.
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