Rory Stewart remains in race to become next Prime Minister

Credit: PA Images

Penrith and Border MP, Rory Stewart, remains in the race to become the Prime Minister.

Leadership candidates needed 17 votes in the secret ballot to stay in the contest. Mr. Stewart received 19 votes.

Tory MPs had cast their secret vote in a committee room in the House of Commons for who they'd like to see lead the party - and become the next prime minister.

There were a total of 313 votes cast.

The next round of voting will take place on Tuesday 18 June.

Boris Johnson topped the poll with 114 votes.

Full breakdown of the first ballot :

  • Boris Johnson 114

  • Jeremy Hunt 43

  • Michael Gove 37

  • Dominic Raab 27

  • Sajid Javid 23

  • Matt Hancock 20

  • Rory Stewart 19

  • Andrea Leadsom 11

  • Mark Harper 10

  • Esther McVey 9

Prime Minister Theresa May refused to say who she voted for.

"That's none of your business," she joked as she left the committee room in the Commons where the ballot is being held.

If all the candidates met the target, the one with the lowest number of votes overall would still have to exit the race.