Tory Leadership

Sunak and Truss to contest Tory run-off to succeed Boris Johnson

The focus now shifts to about 175,000 grassroots Conservative party members, who make the final choice before the winner is announced on September 5

A Sunak-Truss duel was widely predicted at the start of the contest, with both considered Conservative heavyweights having held two of the most senior positions in Johnson’s administration. Picture: Getty

Liz Truss ousted Penny Mordaunt in the race to be Conservative leader and the UK’s next prime minister, pitching the foreign secretary into a final run-off against former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

In a ballot of Tory MPs on Wednesday, Truss won 113 votes to Mordaunt’s 105 as the trade minister’s early momentum stalled. Sunak, whose resignation helped trigger Johnson’s demise and who has led in every round, got 137 votes.

The focus ...