The victorious Brexiters have left their mark, but Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage are unlikely to play any part in the UK's next big decision -- who should become the new British prime minister.
The Conservative Party took a step closer to determining the leader Tuesday when, in a first round of voting, the party eliminated former Defense Secretary Liam Fox from the ballot, according to Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee.
Fox, who missed out on becoming leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, was forced to resign from his defense secretary post in 2011 amid a lobbying scandal involving a close friend, Adam Werrity. Fox had the backing of eight members of Parliament and was never considered a threat to trouble the frontrunners.
Fox said he was disappointed he didn't progress further in the contest, but he thanked his supporters and promised "a statement about my intentions in due course."
"I felt it was vital to stress the importance of national security in this debate and the need for a clear path to our exit from the European Union. I hope I have achieved both these objectives," he said.
Home Secretary Theresa May won the first round of voting in the bid to replace David Cameron, who announced he is stepping down following the Brexit decision, in which voters cast ballots in favor of leaving the European Union. Tuesday's votes were as follows:
• Theresa May -- 165
Andrea Leadsom -- 66
• Michael Gove -- 48
• Stephen Crabb -- 34
• Liam Fox --16
Whoever is elected to lead the party will have to negotiate Britain's exit from the European Union and invoke that much-talked-about clause -- Article 50 -- which governs an EU departure.
It won't be Crabb. He withdrew his name from consideration later Tuesday and gave his support to May.
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