TWO of the candidates vying to be the next Prime Minister backed by Cumbrian MPs have made it to the final three.

The Conservative Party leadership contest, which will see a new Prime Minister appointed to replace Boris Johnson, is entering a critical period.

Consecutive votes over the last two weeks have seen the contest whittled down to three candidates: former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt.

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Backbench MP Tom Tugendhat made it through to the TV debates but has since been knocked out of the race along with former Minister for Levelling-Up Communities Kemi Badenoch MP.

Mr Tugendhat was backed by John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle and Neil Hudson, Penrith and the Borders MP.

Mr Stevenson said that he supported Mr Tugendhat because he represented a change in the policies of Boris Johnson and his cabinet.

After bowing out of the contest, Mr Tugendhat said: “We fought for a clean start because we know that’s what the country’s crying out for, we’ve seen that in response to the two debates, we’ve seen that in the engagement we had from people.”

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He received a great deal of public support after the first TV debate in which he was the only candidate to say no when asked if Boris Johnson is honest.

The latest poll of Conservative MPs has Liz Truss in the lead.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has backed Ms Truss after previously supporting Nadhim Zahawi before he was knocked out of the contest in the first round of voting.

Mr Jenkinson said: “I’m proud to back Liz Truss for leader, she’ll help us unite the party and beat Labour at the next General Election.

“Liz has a clear plan for the economy and I trust her to deliver for the British public.”

Penny Mordaunt is fiercely battling it out with Mr Sunak and Ms Truss, backed by Copeland’s MP Trudy Harrison and Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie.

Polling of MPs closed at 3pm and the latest results are set to be announced at 4pm.

A series of debates will then be held between the final two candidates over the Summer, in front of Conservative Party members.

A member wide vote will then be held on which of the final two should be the next leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister.

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