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The soldier, the remainer, and the bankers: Who are the candidates to replace Boris Johnson?
Updated 00:13, 08-Jul-2022
CGTN
Europe;UK
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside possible successor Rishi Sunak, the former finance minister, at a recent cabinet meeting. /ReutersAlberto Pezzali

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside possible successor Rishi Sunak, the former finance minister, at a recent cabinet meeting. /ReutersAlberto Pezzali

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned on Thursday following a rebellion from his own lawmakers and one-time allies. Some cited government chaos or ideological differences. Others quit after it emerged Johnson had promoted an ally, Chris Pincher, to a senior parliamentary post despite previous allegations of sexual misconduct.

Many of the MPs, who look to have finally ousted Johnson, will now be among those vying to replace him as prime minister. Suella Braverman is the UK's Attorney General and officially announced she would be running for leader of the Conservative Party before Johnson resigned. Here are some of the frontrunners to succeed him.

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Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss leaves at the end of a cabinet meeting this week in Downing Street. /AFP/Justin Tallis

Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss leaves at the end of a cabinet meeting this week in Downing Street. /AFP/Justin Tallis

LIZ TRUSS

The foreign minister is the champion of the Conservative Party's grassroots, regularly topping polls of party members.

Truss has a carefully cultivated public image and was photographed in a tank last year, echoing a famous 1986 photo of Britain's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher.

The 46-year-old spent the first two years of Johnson's premiership as international trade secretary. Despite backing Remain in the 2016 referendum, Truss eventually championed Brexit. Last year she was appointed as Britain's lead negotiator with the European Union.

Jeremy Hunt outside Downing Street. /Reuters/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

Jeremy Hunt outside Downing Street. /Reuters/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

JEREMY HUNT

The former foreign secretary, 55, finished second to Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest. He would offer a far less controversial leadership style after the turmoil of Johnson's premiership.

Over the last two years, Hunt has used his experience as a former health secretary to chair parliament's health select committee and has not been tarnished by having served in the current government.

Earlier this year, he said his ambition to become prime minister "hasn't completely vanished."

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. /Reuters//Yves Herman

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. /Reuters//Yves Herman

BEN WALLACE

Defense minister Ben Wallace, 52, has risen in recent months to be the most popular government member with Conservative Party members, according to Conservative Home, thanks to his handling of the Ukraine crisis.

The former soldier began his political career as a member of Scotland's devolved assembly in May 1999 before being first elected to the Westminster parliament in 2005.

He was security minister from 2016 until taking on his current role three years later. His department evacuated British nationals and allies from Afghanistan last year and has been responsible for sending weapons to Kyiv.

Britain's ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. /Reuters/Daniel Leal

Britain's ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. /Reuters/Daniel Leal

RISHI SUNAK

Sunak, who resigned as finance minister on Tuesday, saying the British public "rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously," was until last year the favorite to succeed Johnson.

The former investment banker, was responsible for a COVID-19 economic rescue package, including a costly jobs retention program that averted mass unemployment. However, the scheme was estimated to have paid out $4.2 billion in error or to fraudsters.

Sunak later faced criticism for not giving enough cost-of-living support to poorer households. Revelations about his wealthy wife's non-domiciled tax status and a fine he received, along with Johnson, for breaking COVID lockdown rules have damaged his standing.

His tax-and-spend budget last year put Britain on course for its biggest tax burden since the 1950s, undermining his claims to favor lower taxes.

Former British Health Secretary Sajid Javid outside his home in London. /Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska

Former British Health Secretary Sajid Javid outside his home in London. /Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska

SAJID JAVID

Javid was the first cabinet minister to resign in protest over accusations that Johnson misled the public over what he knew about Pincher's sexual harassment allegations.

Another former banker, Javid has served in several cabinet roles, most recently as health minister. He resigned as Johnson's finance minister in 2020. On the backbenches, Javid took on a paid role as a senior adviser to the U.S. bank JPMorgan Chase.

The son of Pakistani Muslim immigrant parents, he is an admirer of Margaret Thatcher, who advocated a small state and free market capitalism.

Britain's newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi. /AFP/Daniel Leal

Britain's newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi. /AFP/Daniel Leal

NADHIM ZAHAWI

The newly appointed finance minister was vaccines minister when Britain had one of the world's fastest rollouts of COVID jabs.

Zahawi's personal story as a refugee from Iraq who came to Britain as a child sets him apart from other contenders.

Now, Zahawi reportedly owns property worth over $100 million. Early in his parliamentary career, he "apologized unreservedly" after claiming expenses for electricity costs for a horse stables on a property he owned.

He co-founded polling company YouGov before entering parliament in 2010. His last job was as education secretary. Zahawi said last week that it would be a "privilege" to be prime minister at some stage.

Penny Mordaunt, former UK defense minister. /Reuters/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

Penny Mordaunt, former UK defense minister. /Reuters/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

PENNY MORDAUNT

The former defense secretary was sacked by Johnson when he became prime minister after she endorsed his rival Hunt during the last leadership contest.

Mordaunt was a passionate supporter of leaving the European Union and made national headlines by participating in a now-defunct reality TV diving show, called 'Splash!'

Currently a junior trade minister, Mordaunt called the lockdown-breaking parties in government "shameful."

Other, less likely, candidates who have either been mentioned by commentators and colleagues, or declared an interest in running are Suella Braverman, Tom Tugendhat, Steve Baker, Priot Patel and Grant Shapps.

Below is the latest YouGov polling for who might replace Johnson as Conservative Party leader: 

Source(s): Reuters ,AFP

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