Live updates: Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, resigns

As disaster after disaster has engulfed Boris Johnson in current months, so rivals of Britain’s beleaguered Prime Minister have been plotting behind closed doorways to exchange him.

After a dramatic cascade of almost 60 resignations by lawmakers and authorities officers, Johnson was pressured to begrudgingly announce on Thursday that he would step down.

Listed below are the potential contenders to succeed him as the brand new chief of the Conservative Get together:

Rishi Sunak

The previous chancellor was Johnson’s presumed successor for a number of months after he gained reward for overseeing Britain’s preliminary monetary response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However Sunak’s inventory sank earlier this 12 months after revelations that his spouse had non-domicile tax standing within the UK and that he held a US inexperienced card whereas a minister. He’s, nevertheless, nonetheless among the many bookmakers’ odds-on favorites to take Johnson’s job.

Sajid Javid

Like Sunak, Well being Secretary Sajid Javid resigned this week over the botched dealing with of the resignation of Johnson’s former deputy chief whip in a sexual misconduct scandal. Though Javid’s resignation speech sounded very very similar to a pitch for Prime Minister, outlining methods to reshape the get together for future generations, it’s not but clear whether or not he’ll run.

Liz Truss

The overseas secretary, who has made her management ambitions recognized lately, might now be in pole place. Truss is common amongst Conservative members, who would choose the eventual winner of a contest. Final month, a supply working within the International Workplace advised CNN that Truss had been in “countless conferences with MPs,” and that “it has been insinuated that she’s seeing what her help base is, ought to the time come.” Truss’ workplace denied that any covert management bid was coming.

Penny Mordaunt

The commerce minister is without doubt one of the bookmakers’ favorites to exchange Johnson. After final month’s confidence vote, Penny Mordaunt declined to touch upon whether or not she backed Johnson, elevating eyebrows amongst Westminster observers when she stated: “I did not select this Prime Minister.”

Tom Tugendhat

A former British army officer who chairs the International Affairs Choose Committee, Tom Tugendhat has been certainly one of Johnson’s most sturdy critics and has made no secret of his need to turn into Prime Minister.

Nadhim Zahawi

Lower than two days after he was appointed to chancellor, changing Sunak, Nadhim Zahawi publicly known as on Johnson to resign. Till his promotion, Zahawi, who joined the cupboard lower than a 12 months in the past, was thought of an unlikely selection as the following Prime Minister. However his rise beneath Johnson has been speedy, making his mark with early success as vaccines minister amid the coronavirus pandemic after which as schooling secretary.

Jeremy Hunt

A former well being and overseas secretary, Jeremy Hunt misplaced the 2019 management vote to Johnson. He has since styled himself as an antidote to Johnson and is with out query the best profile contender on the average, ex-Stay facet of the get together.

Learn concerning the different contenders right here.