UK Conservatives set to narrow field in leadership campaign

Combo group of ten file photos showing the contenders in the Conservative Party leadership race, with top row from left, Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Rory Stewart, Mark Harper, and bottom row from left, Esther McVey, Matt Hancock, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid. The official list of ten contenders to replace Prime Minister Theresa May, for the office of Leader of Britain's Conservative Party was released Monday June 10, 2019. (PA via AP)

British Conservative Party lawmaker Boris Johnson leaves his home in London, Thursday, June 13, 2019. Boris Johnson, who ran London as mayor for eight years until 2016 and then became Britain's foreign secretary until his resignation last summer, is a confident if erratic Conservative Party star with a simple message: I'll sort out Brexit. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

LONDON – Britain's Conservative Party is holding the first round of knockout voting in the race to replace Prime Minister Theresa May.

The 313 Conservative lawmakers will vote Thursday by secret ballot. There are currently 10 contenders to be the next party leader, who will also become prime minister.

The candidate with the fewest votes — and any who don't get at least 17 — will drop out. Further rounds of votes will be held next week until just two candidates remain. The winner will then be decided by a vote of all 160,000 Conservative Party members across the country.

Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary, is the front-runner, with declared support from about 80 colleagues. Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt are among those aiming to catch him.