FOREST Of Dean MP Mark Harper has lost out in his bid to become the next Prime Minister.

Mr Harper got only ten votes in the first round of balloting of Conservative MPs on Thursday.

The result was announced at just after 1pm. Mr Harper was ninth out of the ten MPs in the list. The other two that did not get the required 17 MPs to back them in the first round were Esther McVey and former Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom.

Mrs McVey polled nine votes and Mrs Leadsom had 11.

Boris Johnson topped the first round poll with 114 votes which was 71 ahead of second-placed Jeremy Hunt.