Sajid Javid has been knocked out of the Tory leadership race, leaving three contenders vying for the job and to be the next prime minister.
The home secretary received 34 votes, coming behind Jeremy Hunt with 59.
Michael Gove received 61 votes, leapfrogging Mr Hunt to gain second place; while front runner Boris Johnson got 157 votes from MPs.
MPs are now voting in a fifth ballot to select the two candidates who will go through to a party membership vote.
The vote will close at 17:30 BST and the result is due at about 18:00.
The remaining two MPs will compete in a run-off of the party’s 160,000 or so members, and the winner will be announced in the week of 22 July.
Addressing his comments to “kids who look and feel a bit different to their classmates” he said: “Don’t let anyone try and cut you down to size or say you aren’t a big enough figure to aim high.
“You have as much right as anyone to a seat at the top table.”
Mr Johnson, a former Foreign Secretary, said he was “incredibly grateful” for the support of more than half of all Conservative MP, adding that “we have much more work to do”.
Environment Secretary Mr Gove jumped into second place, overtaking Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt, who had been second in each of the three previous rounds of voting.
Mr Gove said he was “absolutely delighted” adding: “If I make the final two I look forward to having a civilised debate of ideas about the future of our country.”
Mr Hunt said: “The critical decision now for all colleagues is what choice do we present to the country.
“Choose me for unity over division, and I will put Boris through his paces and then bring our party and country back together.”
A source close to Mr Hunt told the BBC: “Boris and Michael are great candidates but we have seen their personal psychodrama before. Jeremy Hunt is the candidate who can best unify the party.”
Of the 313 Conservative MPs who voted, there were two spoilt ballots.
Source-BBC
