LONDON — Some six candidates passed the first round of voting by MPs on Wednesday for Britain's next Conservative party leader and prime minister to replace the outgoing Boris Johnson.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak earned the highest number, with 88 votes, followed by Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt on 67 in second and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 50 in third.

Kemi Badenoch (40 votes), Tom Tugendhat (37 votes) and Suella Braverman (32 votes) trailed in fourth to sixth.

The six candidates will face off in another round of voting on Thursday where they will be narrowed down to only two by the end of the week.

Around 160,000 Tory members will then select one of the remaining two. — Agencies