Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss to be next prime minister of the UK as Conservative leader contest enters next stage

Either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss will be the next prime minister of the UK after the Conservative leadership contest was whittled down to the final two candidates.

The results in the latest round of voting in the contest were announced by the 1922 Committee on Wednesday.

Former cabinet secretary Penny Mordaunt was knocked out of the contest leaving former chancellor Sunak and foreign secretary Truss in the running.

Members of the Conservative Party will decide over the summer on who they want to lead the party.

The next prime minister will officially be announced on September 5.

In the final round of voting by Conservative MPs, Sunak topped the ballot with 137 votes, while Liz Truss picked up 113.

Penny Mordaunt was eliminated from the contest having received 105 votes.

In a tweet, Mordaunt said: “Thanks to everyone for all your hard work. We go forward together.”

Truss thanked supporters for entrusting her after she made it onto the final ballot in the Tory leadership campaign.

“Thank you for putting your trust in me,” she said.

“I’m ready to hit the ground from day one.”

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said that he will work with “whoever emerges victorious” from the vote by party members.

“This leadership contest has been full of robust debate and ideas and I would like to thank all my colleagues who put themselves forward to be the next Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” he said.

“This contest clearly showed that it is only the Conservative Party that has the talented individuals within it to truly represent all parts of our country.

“With the final two candidates having now emerged, I fully recognise that both of them bring extensive Cabinet service, particularly during some of the most challenging periods in the country’s history and either one of them are fully up to the task of being our next Prime Minister.

“As Scottish Conservative leader, I will work with whoever emerges victorious from the vote by party members.

“The next six weeks offer a chance for both Rishi and Liz to outline their policies and vision to the membership and I look forward to seeing that happen across the country, including at the Scottish hustings.”