May's supporters included a number of Cabinet ministers, such as
Amber Rudd,
Chris Grayling,
Justine Greening,
Jeremy Hunt,
Michael Fallon and
Patrick McLoughlin.
[126] She won the first round of voting on 5 July, receiving support from 165 MPs, with rivals
Andrea Leadsom receiving 66 votes and
Michael Gove 48. After the results were announced, May said she was "pleased" and "grateful" for the support of other MPs and confirmed that she wanted to unite the party and the UK, to negotiate the "best possible deal as we leave the EU", and to "make Britain work for everyone".
[127] The two candidates with the fewest votes,
Liam Fox and
Stephen Crabb, immediately announced their support for May.
[128] May came in first place in the second ballot on 7 July with an overwhelming majority of 199 MPs, compared with 84 for Leadsom and 46 for Gove, who was eliminated.
[129] Afterwards, May stated that she was delighted with her support among MPs, and she progressed to a vote of the Conservative Party membership against Leadsom.
[130]