London CNN —
Britain will have a new prime minister within a week, outgoing leader Liz Truss said in her resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street on Thursday. The fast-track process is in stark contrast to the contest that catapulted Truss into the hot seat – that lasted six weeks at the height of the summer.
The party wants a new leader in place as soon as possible and with as little drama as possible. Graham Brady, the Conservative official responsible for the process, announced the candidates to replace Truss will need get least 100 nominations from the party’s MPs by 2pm local time Monday.
If only one candidate meets that threshold, they will automatically become leader. Otherwise, an online ballot of party members will close on Friday October 28. The winner of the contest will be the fifth Conservative prime minister in just over six years – and the third within this parliamentary term.
So, who might the next leader be? Here are some of the main runners and riders:
Rishi Sunak has proved to be something of a prophet of the government’s demise, as many of the predictions he made during this summer’s leadership about Truss’s economic plan came to pass. The former Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) warned that Truss’s unfunded tax cuts would lead to a run on sterling, a panic in the bond market and concern from the International Monetary Fund. Perhaps even he would have been surprised by the pace with which he was proved right.
Sunak has experience of economic crisis-fighting, having guided the UK through the Covid-19 pandemic. He also secured the most votes from MPs in the last leadership election – comfortably clearing the new threshold with 137 endorsements. Although Truss eventually won the decisive members’ vote, Sunak only lost narrowly – with 43% of the vote.
The trust he has among MPs – and the vindication his predictions have gained – may make him the most likely next set of hands to steer the ship.
Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, may have had a dress rehearsal for being prime minister this week, after stepping in for an absent Liz Truss at a debate. “The prime minister is not under a desk,” Mordaunt confirmed Tuesday – in a performance that seemed as much about pitching herself as it did about helping the PM.
Mordaunt came third in the last leadership election, narrowly missing out on being put before the members. With 105 votes from MPs in the last election, she too is expected to clear the new threshold. She is expected to perform well among the party membership, in part due to her military credentials. Mordaunt is a reservist of the Royal Navy and served a short spell as Secretary of State for Defense.
Like Sunak, she is from the more moderate wing of the party. There was even talk among MPs of the two forming a “dream team” ticket, although this is yet to materialize – and it is unclear if either would accept being chancellor over taking the top job.
Kemi Badenoch came fourth in this summer’s leadership election – securing only 59 votes from MPs – but was consistently rated by pollsters as a favorite among Conservative grassroots members. One of the younger MPs in the running, Badenoch quickly won the endorsement of long-serving Tory grandee Michael Gove, who praised her as a “breath of fresh air”.
With Truss’s votes from MPs now up for grabs, Badenoch may have an outside chance of clearing the threshold and making it to the members’ vote.
Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, has also been touted as a possible candidate. Multiple allies have made the case that Johnson could be a unity candidate who could bring stability to the country, despite the fact he resigned in disgrace only a few months ago after a series of scandals came together, making his position untenable.
When asked by CNN how they could justify Johnson standing to be PM again, one MP who campaigned for Johnson in the 2019 leadership campaign, said: “Socialists will destroy our economy and if you don’t understand that then I genuinely fear for our future.”
Another MP who supported Johnson in 2019 said he was the only candidate who could comfortably win over both Conservative MPs and members of the Conservative Party.
Conclusion:
The Conservative Party is on the brink of selecting a new leader, with a fast-track process aimed at installing a new prime minister within a week. The candidates are a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers, with Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, and Boris Johnson among the main contenders. The party is looking for a leader who can bring stability and unity to the country, following the tumultuous tenure of Liz Truss.
FAQs:
Q: Who are the main contenders for the Conservative leadership?
A: Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, and Boris Johnson are among the main contenders.
Q: What is the process for selecting the new leader?
A: The candidates will need to secure at least 100 nominations from Conservative MPs by 2pm local time Monday. If only one candidate meets the threshold, they will automatically become leader. Otherwise, an online ballot of party members will close on Friday October 28.
Q: What are the key issues facing the next leader?
A: The next leader will face the challenge of stabilizing the economy, resolving the party’s internal divisions, and restoring trust with the public.
Q: Can Boris Johnson really win the leadership again?
A: Despite his resignation in disgrace, Johnson has been touted as a possible unity candidate who could bring stability to the country. However, it remains to be seen if he can overcome his tarnished reputation and win the support of Conservative MPs and members.
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