The five contenders for the British prime minister held a televised debate today and the party vote will be followed by articles next week

The five contenders for the British prime minister held a televised debate today and the party vote will be followed by articles next week

The five contenders to become Britain's next prime minister will go head to head in three televised debates starting On Monday.

An initial field of 11 candidates has been whittled down to five after two rounds of voting by lawmakers from the ruling Conservative Party, but no one has yet emerged as a clear frontrunner, Reuters reported.

Although former finance minister Sunak came first in both rounds of voting, he faces stiff competition from Foreign Secretary Nicholas Truss, who is backed by some party heavyweights, and trade Minister Mordaunt, who polls show is the party favourite.

Former equalities minister Kemi Badnoch and Tom Tugendhat, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee, will also remain in the race, both hoping to come from behind in the televised debate.

After the televised debate, party voting will resume on Monday, with the candidate who gets the least votes in each round eliminated until the final two candidates are chosen on July 21. Some 200,000 Members of the Conservative Party will then vote for the winner.

The five contenders for the British prime minister held a televised debate today and the party vote will be followed by articles next week

The five contenders to become Britain's next prime minister will go head to head in three televised debates starting On Monday.

An initial field of 11 candidates has been whittled down to five after two rounds of voting by lawmakers from the ruling Conservative Party, but no one has yet emerged as a clear frontrunner, Reuters reported.

Although former finance minister Sunak came first in both rounds of voting, he faces stiff competition from Foreign Secretary Nicholas Truss, who is backed by some party heavyweights, and trade Minister Mordaunt, who polls show is the party favourite.

Former equalities minister Kemi Badnoch and Tom Tugendhat, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee, will also remain in the race, both hoping to come from behind in the televised debate.

After the televised debate, party voting will resume on Monday, with the candidate who gets the least votes in each round eliminated until the final two candidates are chosen on July 21. Some 200,000 Members of the Conservative Party will then vote for the winner.