
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak led the field of Conservative MPs bidding to become Britain's next prime minister in the first ballot of Tory lawmakers Wednesday, as the race narrowed to six following the elimination of two candidates.
Early frontrunner Sunak, who quit as finance minister last week, helping to trigger outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson's downfall, topped the contest with 88 votes, followed by former defence minister Penny Mordaunt on 67.