JUSTICE Secretary Michael Gove has been eliminated from the Conservative leadership race.

The leading Brexit campaigner will not progress to the final stage of the contest which will see members of the Conservative Party choose the leader of the party and therefore the next Prime Minister.

Front runner and Home Secretary Theresa May will now face off against Andrea Leadsom, with one of them becoming the UK's second female PM.

Mrs May took 199 votes, more than both of her two rivals combined. Mrs Leadsom received 84 votes while Mr Gove got 46.

Mrs May said: "I am delighted to have won so much support from my colleagues. This vote shows that the Conservative Party can come together - and under my leadership it will.

"I have said all along that this election needs to be a proper contest. And now it is time for me - and my team - to put my case to the Conservative Party membership.

"That case comes down to three things. Because we need strong, proven leadership to negotiate the best deal for Britain as we leave the European Union, to unite our party and our country, and to make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us.

"Those are the things my colleagues have voted for in overwhelming numbers today, and I am confident they will win the support of our members - and the support of the country as a whole."

Where the two candidates stand on key issues:

Mrs May has said that there must be a "priority" to allow British companies to trade with the single market, but will seek action on free movement.

She has admitted that leaving the EU would not immediately stem the flow of migration from Europe ands would not guarantee that EU nationals already living in Britain can stay here.

Andrea Leadsom has said that she wants to continue free trade with the EU but also control immigration. Her backers have promised she will set out a "third way" to show how to achieve both.

She has said she is committed to allowing EU nationals already living in Britain to stay.

When it comes to the economy, Mrs May has said she will not order an emergency budget in response to Brexit and has discussed reforming capitalism, calling for a small but strong state.

She has said she will tackle "gross abuses of power" and address the gap between the generations.

Mrs Leadsom has promised "prosperity not austerity" and signalled that she will keep up the Leave campaign's momentum to focus on boosting the prospects and incomes of so-called "left behind" voters - focusing tax cuts on the low-paid and "supercharging" the "northern powerhouse" project

In terms of the candidates' socail policies, Mrs May has promised a one nation Conservative "radical programme of social reform" to help those from "ordinary, working class" families. Will "cherish" the NHS.

She also voted for gay marriage.

Mrs Leadsom on the other hand abstained from voting on gay marriage and said she "didn't like" the legislation.

She said she will appoint a key housing minister with a bigger budget who will be in post for the long-term.