Thursday 20 June 2019 6:08 pm | Updated: Thursday 20 June 2019 6:09 pm

Tory leadership race: Gove falls out as Johnson and Hunt make final two

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 10: Environment Secretary Michael Gove gives a speech as he officially launches his Conservative leadership bid at the Sky Loft in Millbank Tower on June 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Michael Gove has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership contest this afternoon, setting the stage for Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to battle it out in the race to become Britain’s next Prime Minister.

The environment secretary failed to secure enough votes from fellow Tory MPs to reach the final ballot, with Johnson or Hunt now set to be elected leader by party members.

In the fifth and final round of votes for MPs, Gove narrowly missed out on the final two after receiving 75 number of votes from MPs, just two less than rival Hunt.

Former foreign secretary and frontrunner Johnson was once again the runaway winner in today’s final round of votes for MPs, taking 160 votes and securing first place as expected.

Johnson and Hunt will now compete for the top spot in a vote of the party’s 160,000 members, with the result set to be announced in the week of 22 July.

Earlier today fellow contender Sajid Javid was knocked out after receiving 34 votes, falling behind Jeremy Hunt with 59, Michael Gove with 61 and Boris Johnson with 157.

Following Javid’s exit form the race, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson threw her weight behind Gove, leading to further speculation over whether the environment secretary would make the final two.