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Theresa May insists she is the only leadership candidate who can unite the Conservative Party and the UK after the historic decision to leave the European Union.
The Home Secretary stormed to a first round victory in the Tory leadership contest, securing 165 votes to leave her rivals trailing.
The race to be second on the ballot and the alternative put to Tory members was won by Andrea Leadsom who secured 66 votes.
Michael Gove finished third with 48 votes, followed by Stephen Crabb on 34, who has since dropped out of the race and endorsed May.
Liam Fox came last and was eliminated after scoring just 16 votes – and has also thrown his support behind the frontrunner.
Mrs May scored half of the 329 votes cast – one more than all the other candidates put together.
Speaking after the result on Tuesday she said: “I am pleased with this result and very grateful to my colleagues for their support.”
“There is a big job before us: to unite our party and the country, to negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU, and to make Britain work for everyone.
“I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as prime minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party.”
The only missing voter was thought to be David Cameron who has vowed to remain neutral in the contest to find his successor.
Conservative MPs are whittling down the list of five contenders to a shortlist of two before 150,000 party members pick the winner.
But there are fears in Leadsom’s camp the Home Secretary’s supporters could conspire to keep her off the ballot by voting for Gove.
But May’s camp dismissed the suggestion and insisted her supporting MPs had been told not to vote tactically.
Meanwhile, Crabb said he would give May his “whole-hearted support” – becoming the second to leave the contest after Fox was knocked out.
Speaking of May, he said “there is only one candidate” to unite the Tories and form a “cohesive and strong” government.
The Work and Pensions Secretary also urged everyone in the party to forget about the “remain” and “leave” labels because it could risk “splitting the party”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “We are all committed to taking Britain out of the EU and respecting the outcome of the referendum. Theresa has said she will do that.”
Earlier, Crabb told BBC News: “I entered this leadership race with the overriding goal of putting two themes at the heart of the debate – unity for our divided nation and opportunity to tackle disadvantage in particular.”- BBC
Online Reporter