By Jove, Gove's out! Johnson, Hunt vie for UK top job

Former London mayor Boris Johnson will vy for the role of British Prime Minister against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt after British Environment Secretary Michael Gove was narrowly eliminated in the final MP vote on Thursday.

British PM hopeful Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt walks near the Parliament grounds in London, Britain June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Conservative Members of Parliament filled out a fifth ballot late Thursday as Johnson, the frontrunner, gained 160 votes, while Hunt garnered 77 and Gove a close 75.

Hunt called himself "the underdog" on social media, but has promised to deliver Brexit.

I'm the underdog - but in politics surprises happen as they did today. I do not doubt the responsibility on my shoulders - to show my party how we deliver Brexit and not an election, but also a turbo-charged economy and a country that walks tall in the world

  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 20, 2019

Although British pundits asserted that with Johnson’s wide lead in each round of balloting he would do a deal with the second place winner to become prime minister, it was announced that the 160,000 Conservative members will vote for who fills the next top job.

British television station ITV announced that Johnson and Hunt would go head-to-head in a televised debate scheduled for 9 July. Johnson said on social media he was looking forward to "a debate of ideas".

Count me in! Really looking forward to a debate of ideas with my colleague @Jeremy_Hunt on @ITV https://t.co/F1TqYHoVKQ

  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 20, 2019

The voter's choice will decide who takes over from caretaker Prime Minister Theresa May in late July.