Another top Tory OUT of leadership race – leaving James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch & Robert Jenrick in fight for top 2

TOM Tugendhat has crashed retired of the Tory enactment contention - leaving Kemi Badenoch present warring to enactment successful the race. 

James Cleverly is the caller frontrunner connected 39, leapfrogging erstwhile favourite Robert Jenrick who scored 31.

Ex-Security Minister Mr Tugendhat is the 3rd campaigner to beryllium eliminated aft receiving conscionable 20 votes, down 1 from past time.

Ms Badenoch received 30 and is present susceptible to going retired time erstwhile Tory MPs volition time sound retired 1 more.

It volition permission a last 2 who volition spell earlier a afloat ballot of enactment members earlier a effect connected November 2. 

The remaining 3 candidates volition walk 24 hours scrambling to hoover up Mr Tugendhat’s MP supporters.

It is apt Shadow Home Secretary Mr Cleverly volition payment the astir from the exit of his chap centrist Mr Tugendhat.

Mr Cleverly has already received a boost aft former hopeful Mel Stride endorsed him yesterday connected the backmost of a palmy enactment league speech.

Former Immigration Minister Mr Jenrick is expected to cruise into the past 2 having won a coagulated basal of supporters with his hardline borders appeal.

It leaves grassroots favourite Ms Badenoch battling to survive aft a hard fewer weeks of gaffes.

She became embroiled successful a enactment astir “excessive” maternity wage astatine the league successful Birmingham past week.

However polls amusement she remains the rank-and-file’s preferred prime and volition apt tempest a ballot of the afloat membership.