THE RACE to replace Boris Johnson as PM and leader of the Conservative Party is heating up as voting begins.

Mr Johnson announced his resignation in front of the national press outside Downing Street last week.

Conservative MPs immediately began announcing their intentions to replace him as leader of the party, and therefore Prime Minister.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison initially backed Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, in his bid to be party leader. Mrs Harrison has worked alongside the Secretary of State in the Department for Transport before taking on her new role as the minister there last week.

However, Mr Shapps has now bowed out of the leadership race, deciding instead to support Rishi Sunak in his campaign.

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Conservative MPs are voting today on the eight candidates remaining in the contest and after Mr Shapps' withdrawal, Mrs Harrison ran a survey, asking her constituents who they would like to see her support.

She said: "From considering the results of my poll and viewing the comments on social media, it’s clear that Penny and Kemi Badenoch are the two front runners in Copeland’s eyes.

"Thank you to everyone who has fed back to me in such large numbers.

"While Kemi has many merits and I would gladly serve under her premiership, I have chosen to support Penny.

"I have worked under Penny as her Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, and she has considerable experience across Government and out of Parliament – and her defence experience is invaluable at present."

Conservative Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie has also given his support to Ms Mordaunt's campaign.

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Tom Tugendhat has been supported in his bid by Carlisle MP John Stevenson and Penrith and the Borders MP Neil Hudson.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has backed Nadhim Zahawi, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, after speaking to his own constituents and fellow Parliamentarians.

The first round of results are due at 5pm.

The remaining candidates in the race to be the next Prime Minister are: Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Tom Tugendhat and Nadhim Zahawi.

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