Deputies predict that this will trigger the frantic horse trade on Wednesday night and Thursday, ahead of the second round of voting that day.
Candidates who remain on the field will be courting rivals who have been forced to withdraw and will try to get their endorsements and hopefully the support of parliamentarians who had supported them.
The second round of voting will take place on Thursday, July 14, when the last candidate for leadership will automatically leave.
What happens next?
After Thursday’s second vote, there will be a three-day break before MPs have a chance to talk to candidates about their policies on a hunting “super-Monday”.
Three sets of clashes are scheduled for Monday, July 18: one for the 1922 committee and open to all Conservative MPs, one for the group of 92 senior Conservative MPs and another for the anti-awakening common sense group.
The next ballots are scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, when one or two ballots may be cast, depending on the number of candidates remaining.
The last day of voting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20th.
Party leaders expect two candidates to remain in the process on Thursday, July 21st.
The confrontation begins
Conservative Central Office officials take over and organize a series of rallies at the party’s regional bases across the country so members can reunite the two remaining contenders.
The calls – which were held in 2019 in places like Belfast, York, Darlington, Perth, Nottingham and Cardiff – will allow thousands of voting members to question the last two.
Conservative members will be encouraged to vote for their election to be leader by mail in late August.
The winner will be announced on Monday 5 September.
The new Conservative leader and prime minister will have two days to prepare for his first meeting with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday 7 September.