As crisis after crisis engulfed Boris Johnson in recent months, so the British Prime Minister’s opponents are seen as Conspiracy behind closed doors to replace him.
After a dramatic series of nearly 60 resignations from lawmakers and government officials, Johnson was forced to reluctantly announce on Thursday that he would step down.
Here are the potential candidates to succeed him as the new leader of the Conservative Party:
Rishi Sunak
The former prime minister is Johnson’s presumed successor several months after he won praise for overseeing Britain’s initial financial response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But By Sunak Shares tumbled earlier this year after it was revealed that his wife had non-resident tax status in the UK and that he had a US green card while a minister. However, he is still among the dealer ‘ lovers have odds to take on Johnson’s job.
Sajid Javid
Like Sunak, Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned this week due to his unsuccessful handling of former deputy Johnson’s resignation in a sexual misconduct scandal. In spite of Javid’s The resignation speech sounded a lot like a pitch to the Prime Minister, outlining how to reshape the party for future generations, it remains unclear whether he will run for office.
Liz Truss
The secretary of state, who has made a name for himself for his leadership ambitions in recent years, may now be in a vital position. Truss is popular among Conservative Party members, who will choose the ultimate winner in a contest. Last month, a source working at the State Department told CNN that Truss had been in “endless meetings with MPs” and that “it was hinted that she was viewing her support base as whatever, if the time comes.” Truss’s office denied that there was any secret leadership bid.
Penny Mordaunt
The commerce minister is one of the bookies’ favorites to replace Johnson. After last month’s vote of confidence, Penny Mordaunt declined to comment on whether she supported Johnson, prompting Westminster observers to raise eyebrows as she said: “I did not choose this Prime Minister.”
Tom Tugendhat
A former British Army officer, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Selection Committee, Tom Tugendhat was one of Johnson’s strongest critics and made no secret of his desire to be Prime Minister.
Nadhim Zahawi
Less than two days after he was appointed prime minister, replacing Sunak, Nadhim Zahawi publicly called on Johnson to resign. Until his promotion, Zahawi, who joined the cabinet less than a year ago, was seen as the unlikely choice to be the next Prime Minister. But his ascent under Johnson was swift, marking his early success as minister of vaccines amid the coronavirus pandemic and then as education minister.
Jeremy Hunt
A former secretary of state and health, Jeremy Hunt lost the 2019 leadership vote to Johnson. Since then, he has billed himself as an antidote to Johnson and is without a doubt the most popular candidate of the moderates, the party’s veteran.
