The race to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative chief is underneath means, because the 9 contenders compete for the backing of Tory MPs to make the ultimate shortlist of two that will probably be voted on by get together members.
Nominations for the primary stage of the competition opened on Tuesday and MPs will start voting on Wednesday. A number of rounds are anticipated, with the shortlist attributable to be finalised by July 21.
Throughout this part, the assist of MPs is vital to gaining momentum as candidates are compelled to drop out if they don’t meet a minimal threshold. Here’s a run down of which MPs are backing which contenders to be the following prime minister.
The candidates
Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak: the 42-year-old former chancellor has established himself because the favorite to be the following prime minister, due to first-mover benefit, a slick marketing campaign launch video and the backing of many MPs from throughout the get together. However his message of fiscal self-discipline has proved unpopular with some Tories sad along with his financial technique.
Penny Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt: the junior commerce minister has been eyeing up the Conservative management for a number of years with a novel pitch combining her pro-Brexit credentials with social liberalism, enjoying on her expertise within the Royal Navy. The 49-year-old’s low public profile has been countered by an efficient operation to achieve assist amongst Conservative MPs.
Tom Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat: the chair of the Home of Commons’ overseas affairs choose committee has no authorities expertise, however has discovered favour on the left of the Conservative get together along with his pitch for a “clear break” from the Johnson period, enjoying on his navy service. The 49-year-old’s hopes had been boosted with endorsements from a number of senior pro-Brexit figures.
Liz Truss
Liz Truss: the overseas secretary’s pitch relies on two key strands: a clear break with the financial insurance policies of the Johnson authorities and a deal with supply primarily based on her 5 cupboard roles. The 46-year-old’s deal with liberty and freedom imitates her heroine, Margaret Thatcher, and has discovered favour on the best flank of the get together.
Nadhim Zahawi
Nadhim Zahawi: the newly appointed chancellor was an early favorite within the contest however has struggled to achieve momentum, partly attributable to his central position within the fall of Johnson and questions on his tax affairs. However the 55-year-old is hopeful that his pitch primarily based on financial transformation and social mobility can nonetheless discover favour amongst a large unfold of MPs.
Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch: the previous equalities minister has a low profile exterior Westminster however has grow to be the shock exterior selection within the race, due to her strident pitch on social points and the endorsement of ex-levelling up secretary Michael Gove. The 42-year-old has additionally discovered assist from a variety of youthful MPs from the 2017 and 2019 intakes.
Jeremy Hunt
Jeremy Hunt: the previous well being secretary was one of many first to declare that Johnson ought to step down as prime minister and hoped to pitch himself to the left of the Tory get together, primarily based on his document in authorities. However the 55-year-old has struggled to achieve momentum after a late launch to his marketing campaign and is anticipated to drop out early on.
Suella Braverman
Suella Braverman: the attorney-general has discovered a lot favour with the rightwing of the Conservative get together, constructed on her popularity as the previous head of the European Analysis Group of pro-Brexit MPs, together with her pledge to withdraw from the European Conference on Human Rights. However the 42-year-old is prone to battle to achieve assist from reasonable MPs.
Sajid Javid
Sajid Javid: the previous well being secretary’s third bid for the Tory management follows his determination to stop Johnson’s authorities final week, which began the chain of occasions that led to the prime minister’s departure. However assist for the 52-year-old amongst MPs has waned since his final candidacy, main many to suspect he’s standing to safe a job within the subsequent cupboard.
Now not within the operating
Rehman Chishti
Rehman Chishti: the previous spiritual freedom tsar had made probably the most shock entry to the management contest, given his lack of ministerial document and minimal assist from MPs. The 43-year-old withdrew earlier than the primary poll.
Priti Patel
Priti Patel: a number of socially conservative Tories backed the house secretary earlier than she dominated out a bid for the management. Had the 50-year-old opted to make a late entry into the race, she would have seemingly confronted a battle with different extra established candidates for assist from the rightwing of the get together.
Grant Shapps
Grant Shapps: the transport secretary made a shock bid for the management, primarily based on his document of supply in authorities and pledging to be a gentle prime minister. However the 53-year-old struggled to achieve a lot assist from MPs and dropped out of the race on July 12, endorsing Sunak.
How the management contest works
Extra work by Mumena Choudhury, Veronika Samborska and Kari-Ruth Pedersen
