The final rounds of voting by MPs in the Conservative leadership contest will take place in the UK today.

Two of the remaining four hopefuls will be eliminated from the contest.

The remaining two MPs will then go on a final ballot, with general members of the Tory party choosing the new leader.

Yesterday's vote saw Rory Stewart eliminated from the race.

Mr Stewart's campaign had previously gained momentum, seeing a significant jump in support in the second ballot.

However, he dropped ten votes in round three and failed to meet the threshold to progress.

The international development secretary acknowledged that the televised BBC debate format on Tuesday didn't suit him.

During the broadcast he had diverged from his fellow candidates on issues such as Brexit - including suggesting that the next British prime minister is unlikely to get a new deal from Brussels before the October deadline.

He told Sky News: "There was no audience... there was no people to talk to.

"If there had been some public in the room, there might have been some nodding heads - instead of which I have four against one."

Four candidates now remain in the race: Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid.

Mr Johnson remains a clear frontrunner, having secured 143 votes - over 45% of the total - in the third ballot of MPs.

Mr Hunt came in second place with 54 votes, following by Mr Gove with 51 and Mr Javid with 38.

Final results will be announced in late July, following a postal ballot of members.

Main image: File photos of (left to right, top row) Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart, Sajid Javid, (bottom row) Esther McVey, Matt Hancock, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove and Mark Harper. Picture by: PA/PA Wire/PA Images