Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, whose resignation triggered the downfall of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on Wednesday, 13 July, took an early lead in the race to succeed as leader of the ruling Conservative Party and Britain’s prime minister by winning the first round of voting.

In the first ballot of Conservative MPs, Sunak got 88 votes, while Penny Mordaunt came second place with 67 votes. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was in the third position with 50 votes.

KI