How a new UK prime minister is elected

The successor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be chosen by Conservative Party members, who will whittle down the list of candidates to a final runoff between two contenders


Jul 12
CANDIDATES PUT FORWARD 
Each candidate must be nominated by Conservative members of parliament (MPs)

Candidate must have support of at least 20 MPs to advance to first round


Jul 13
FIRST ROUND
Conservative MPs vote. Candidates receiving fewer than 30 votes are eliminated
                             

To Jul 21
SECOND ROUND
Field whittled down in successive votes by MPs. Lowest-ranked candidate eliminated each time

Voting in all rounds is by secret ballot

Process continues until two candidates remain


Jul-Sep RUN-OFF
Final two candidates put to postal vote of wider Conservative Party membership – around 160,000 people


Sep 5 LEADER ELECTED
Winner becomes party leader. As Conservatives command parliamentary majority, winner also becomes Prime Minister

    
Sources: BBC, Reuters   
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