A SOUTH Cumbria MP said he was looking forward to a 'battle of ideas' as the final two in the Conservative leadership contest were revealed. 

Simon Fell was commenting after Penny Mordaunt was knocked out of the running to be prime minister. 

Ms Mordaunt finished last in the MPs' ballot on Wednesday with 105 votes, leaving Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss in the hunt to be leader of the Conservative Party.

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said he was looking forward to a 'good clean debate, a battle of ideas' and a 'focus on delivering for people who are facing real challenges with the cost of living'.

"I'm delighted that both of the candidates who made it through to the final have backed the proposals put forward by the Northern Research Group [of MPs], putting levelling up and the North at the heart of the next administration," said Mr Fell. 

"No matter who wins, we will have a Minister for the North, a commitment to creating a levelling up formula, and a drive to create a new vocational hub in the North of England."

READ MORE: Next prime minister 'needs to commit to renewal of the North', says MP

Mr Fell had backed former army officer Tom Tugendhat, who was knocked out of the running on Monday, in the Tory leadership contest.

The Barrow MP said Mr Tugendhat was a 'superb candidate with a sense of duty' who fought 'a campaign he should be very proud of'.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron was critical of the remaining Tory leadership candidates, saying they offered 'no solutions' to the issues facing the UK - referencing the rising cost of living, the housing crisis and climate change. 

"Instead, they seem to be spending most of their time and energy on attacking each other," he said.

Mr Sunak topped Wednesday's ballot with 137 votes. Ms Truss received 113. 

The pair are to face a series of hustings events over the coming months, with the winner of the contest to be voted for by members of the Conservative Party and announced on September 5.