Theresa May takes lead in Conservative leadership race

The Work and Pensions Secretary said he was now backing Mrs May, insisting "there is only one candidate" to unite the Tories and form a "cohesive and strong" government.

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Michael Gove, who finished in third place on 48 votes behind Andrea Leadsom with 66, vowed to fight on.

Minutes later, Dr Fox also backed Mrs May, stressing "experience matters".

Earlier, Mr Crabb told BBC News: "I entered this leadership race with the overriding goal of putting two themes at the heart of the debate - unity for our divided nation and opportunity to tackle disadvantage in particular.

"And I've been overwhelmed by the support I've received from colleagues - those who voted for me today but those who didn't as well, but who made the point to me that they share my one nation vision and they want that one nation vision to be at the heart of the next Conservative government.

"I think tonight we need to recognise that there is only one candidate in a position to unite our party and to form a cohesive and strong government, which our country needs at this time.

"I mean this is a really, really serious moment for this country and so I've taken the decision that I won't put my name forward to the next round of voting but instead of that I'll be lending my wholehearted support to Theresa May, who is overwhelmingly in the best position to be the next prime minister and the leader of the Conservative Party."

The two candidates who top the final round of MPs' votes will go forward to a postal ballot of party members to select a new Conservative leader - and prime minister - in a contest due to end on September 9.

But Mr Gove stressed the need for a prime minister who campaigned for Brexit, unlike Mrs May, and said he would stay in the race.

He said: "I am delighted by the support I have received from colleagues. It reflects the optimistic message that I've been putting forward.

"Now that Britain has voted to leave, I think the country deserves to have a leader who believes in Britain outside the European Union and who also has experience at the highest level of government.

"I hope that in the days to come, I'll be able to convince my colleagues that I should be one of the candidates that Conservative party members can choose from. I think they should have a choice between two candidates of experience, two candidates who have delivered in government departments.

"I think that the message I have of optimism and hope about Britain's bright future outside the European Union is shared by many Conservative members and voters - indeed by a majority of the country."

Dr Fox said the timing and circumstances of the election meant Mrs May was the best placed candidate.

Speaking outside Parliament, he said: "Were we to be electing a leader of the opposition with four years to go, there are a number of candidates that I would have been happy to give my support to, we have an enormous depth of talent and they will make great ministers, cabinet ministers, and perhaps even prime ministers in the future.

"In this leadership election however, we have nine weeks before the candidate who is successful becomes prime minister.

"It is essential that they have an understanding at the top levels of government and of international affairs and how the process in Whitehall operates.

"And for that reason I've decided to give my support to Theresa May - I intend to work closely with her, to campaign for her, and I'm sure she will be a very fine prime minister of this country."

The Home Secretary's dominant first-round performance and energy minister Mrs Leadsom's strong showing in second place paves the way for an all-woman run-off.

Welcome her victory, Mrs May said: "There is a big job before us: to unite our party and the country, to negotiate the best possible deal as we leave the EU, and to make Britain work for everyone.

"I am the only candidate capable of delivering these three things as Prime Minister, and tonight it is clear that I am also the only one capable of drawing support from the whole of the Conservative Party."

But despite her overwhelming support among MPs, Mrs May will be all too aware that in the two previous contests conducted under the present rules, initial frontrunners Kenneth Clarke and David Davis went on to be rejected by grassroots members.

As a supporter of the Remain vote in last month's EU referendum, the Home Secretary is vulnerable to claims by Eurosceptic rivals that the largely Brexit-backing membership requires a leader who actively campaigned to Leave.

And she has faced criticism over her refusal to give firm assurances that European Union nationals would be allowed to remain in the UK and was accused by former Cabinet colleague Ken Clarke of being a "bloody difficult woman" with little knowledge of foreign policy.

In unguarded comments caught on camera by Sky News, Mr Clarke discussed the leadership candidates with fellow Tory veteran Sir Malcolm Rifkind, saying: "Theresa is a bloody difficult woman but you and I worked with Margaret Thatcher."

He added: "I don't think either Andrea Leadsom or Boris Johnson actually are in favour of leaving the European Union."

The two Tory veterans were scathing about Mr Gove, with Sir Malcolm saying "I don't mind who wins as long as Gove comes third", while Mr Clarke warned if the hawkish Justice Secretary was in Number 10 "we'd go to war with at least three countries at once".

Mr Gove's proposer, Nicky Morgan, said he was winning the support of Leave campaigners who want a "heavyweight" representative in the race, in an apparent swipe at Mrs Leadsom, who has never held Cabinet office.

Backbencher Nadine Dorries, who backs Mrs Leadsom, said the energy minister outperformed expectations and that she was only expecting her to get 54 votes.