Matt Hancock has dropped out of the Tory leadership race after trailing behind his rivals in the first round of votes.

The health secretary was forced to consider his future after coming sixth in Thursday’s ballot, when he secured the backing of only 20 MPs, compared with frontrunner Boris Johnson’s 114 supporters.

Mr Johnson far outstripped his rivals in the first round, with nearly three times the number of supporters of his nearest competitor, Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary.

Announcing his decision, Mr Hancock said: “I’m hugely grateful for the warm and enthusiastic support I’ve received throughout this campaign, and am proud of the way we managed to set the agenda by promoting new ideas to make people’s lives better.

“I ran as the candidate of the future, but the party is understandably looking for a candidate for the unique circumstances we face right now.

Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Show all 3 1 /3 Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Boris Johnson - 157 votes Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arriving in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting where Theresa May will brief on her plans for Brexit before a major speech aimed at helping to break the deadlock in the negotiations with Brussels. PA Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Michael Gove - 61 votes LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Britain's Environment Secretary Michael Gove leaves 10 Downing Street on June 7, 2018 in London, England. Prime Minister Theresa May is holding an emergency Brexit cabinet meeting in an attempt to resolve tensions over the UK's Irish border plan. (Photo by Simon Dawson/Getty Images) Getty Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Jeremy Hunt - 59 votes Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt leaving Downing Street, London, after attending a Cabinet meeting. PA

“I have therefore decided to withdraw from this contest, and I will look for the best way to advance the values we fought for, of free enterprise, and an open, aspirational, free society, underpinned by an optimistic belief in the value of each individual person.”

His departure narrows the field to six candidates, with Mr Johnson in the lead, followed by Mr Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart.

Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, Mark Harper, the ex-chief whip, and Andrea Leadsom, the former Commons leader, were all eliminated in the first ballot after failing to win enough support.

Sam Gyimah, a former business minister, ruled himself out before the vote as his campaign was struggling to take off.

The remaining leadership hopefuls are now locked in a battle to win the support of some 50 MPs whose candidates have dropped out of the race.

Mr Hancock, who at 40 was the youngest candidate, did not shed any light on who he would back in the race to succeed Theresa May, but promised to meet the other candidates to see who best represented his values.

He is said to have met Mr Javid on Thursday afternoon but the talks broke up without agreement.

Asked if he could support Mr Johnson, Mr Hancock told the Evening Standard: “I’m not going to rule anything in or out at this stage.”

Speculation remains over whether anyone else will drop out ahead of the second round of voting next week.

Candidates need to get 33 votes to stay in the race, which would currently see Mr Raab, Mr Javid and Mr Stewart crash out of the contest.