THERESA May has won the first round of voting for the next Conservative leader and UK prime minister, with Liam Fox eliminated after coming last.

Tory MPs have been choosing between Theresa May, Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom, Stephen Crabb and Dr Liam Fox.

Less than two hours after the results were announced, Stephen Crabb announced he was pulling out of the race after gaining just 34 votes in the opening ballot.

Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench Conservative 1922 committee read out the results of the leadership ballot shortly after 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.

The results are as follows:

Theresa May: 165

Andrea Leadsom: 66

Michael Gove: 48

Stephen Crabb: 34

Liam Fox: 16

Christchurch MP Chris Chope has placed his backing behind Andrea Leadsom and called for whoever wins the leadership race to begin the process of leaving the European Union “as soon as possible”. 

“I think she is first class and has proven private sector experience,” he told the Echo.

“I like her style of doing things – I’ve seen her in action chairing meetings and she listens to people and is a delegator. I think we need that.

“I think she would be a very good prime minister.

“Because her heart is Brexit and she’s very knowledgeable about all the background to it, she’s best able to deliver a swift, decisive outcome.”

Asked when he feels Article 50 should be triggered, he said: “I think we should trigger Article 50 as soon as possible, and I also think we should introduce legislation to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act straight away.”

He added: “[The EU] have actually got more to lose than we have if there are tariff barriers.

“I think at the moment the emphasis is the wrong way round. They are saying ‘well put your offer on the table’.

“I think we should say we have got a clear vision of what we want, which is to have a maximum amount of free trade. We’ll go with the WTO rules – but if you want to have something better for yourselves then we are happy to reciprocate.”

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns has said he will be backing fellow Leave campaigner and justice secretary Michael Gove, as has MP for New Forest West Desmond Swayne.

Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Michael Tomlinson has given his backing to energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who was a leading campaigner for Leave.

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East and a junior foreign office minister, has said he will be nominating home secretary Theresa May, a fellow Remain supporter.

After originally backing Liam Fox Poole’s Robert Syms has now declared for Theresa May.

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare put his support behind work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb but has yet to say who he'll support in the next round.

And South Dorset’s Richard Drax has yet to reveal who he will back.

Further rounds will take place on Thursday and the following Tuesday until two candidates emerge. Conservative Party members will then vote for an overall winner, due to be named on September 9.