All Tory Mps In The Race To Replace Boris Johnson As Leader So Far

The outgoing prime minister finally admitted it was time to step down on Thursday after more than 50 MPs resigned from government and party roles over his behaviour. The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has been dogged by a string of scandals throughout his leadership since 2019, but the latest nail in the coffin came after it emerged he promoted Tory MP Chris Pincher despite knowledge of allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Johnson said he would remain as prime minister in a caretaker role until a new Conservative Party leader is announced by the autumn. The contest to succeed Mr Johnson has been described by one Tory politician as the “crazy races” – with up to 15 MPs announcing their candidates or preparing to launch a campaign. To take part, candidates need eight nominations. Candidates must then receive 5 percent of the vote to remain in the running — 18 votes — in the first round. They must get 10 percent, 36 MPs, in the second round. Senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the Committee’s 1922 backbenchers during the 2019 contest, suggested leadership candidates who have “no hope” of winning should quit now and help “thin out” the crowded field. Here are all the Tory MPs who have launched leadership campaigns so far:

Rishi Sunak

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak is a public favorite to be the next Tory leader (Daniel Leal/AP) Mr Sunak entered the Tory leadership race pledging to “restore trust” after Boris Johnson’s multiple scandals, but with a warning that the country cannot afford early tax cuts. The former chancellor also hinted he would end the “culture wars” the current prime minister enjoyed fighting, promising: “We are sick of division.” Stealing a march on his rivals, Mr Sunak emerged as the fiscally responsible candidate, resisting the clamor for tax cuts. Mr Sunak also created a website, ready4rishi.com, which – as The Independent exclusively revealed in January – debuted in September 2020. At the time, sources close to Mr Sunak described the claims, along with those that the chancellor had prepared a leadership campaign, as “completely false”.

Suella Braverman

Attorney General Suella Braverman is one of the few to publicly state her intentions (Aaron Chown/PA) About 12 hours before Johnson finally accepted the inevitable and announced that he was resigning as prime minister, the first candidate to succeed him had already been announced. Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, Attorney General Suella Braverman said she planned to stay in her position for the greater good of the country, but slammed Johnson for mishandling the Chris Pincher sexual harassment scandal that ultimately proved his undoing. She then signaled her intention to run for the leadership, saying: “I love this country, my parents came here with absolutely nothing and it was Britain that gave them hope, security and opportunity. “This country has provided me with incredible opportunities in my education and career. I owe this country a debt of gratitude and serving as prime minister would be the greatest honor, so yes, I will try.” Within hours of Mr Johnson’s rude resignation speech the following afternoon, she already had a Twitter account promoting her campaign up and running.

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat, ex-soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has said he will “bridge the Brexit divide” if elected (Niall Carson/PA) Tory MP Tom Tugendhat wasted little time declaring his intention to join the race, declaring his intentions the day after Mr Johnson resigned. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Tugendhat, 49, said: “I am putting together a broad coalition of colleagues that will bring new energy and ideas to government and finally bridge the Brexit divide that has dominated our recent history. “I have served in the past – in the army and now in parliament. Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister. It’s time for a clean start. It’s time for renewal.” He made his first pitch to Scottish Tory members the following day, stressing the need for “serious and proven leadership” to make the party a success in Scotland.

Kemi Badenoch

Former Equality Minister Kemi Badenoch has promised tax cuts and declared her opposition to ‘identity politics’ (HM Treasury) Former Equality Minister Kemi Bandenos became the fourth candidate to throw her hat in the ring on Friday – promising tax cuts and declaring her opposition to “identity politics”. The Saffron Walden MP said she supported lower taxes “to stimulate growth and productivity and to be accompanied by strict spending discipline”. Vowing to run against the revival, she also hit out at “identity politics” and said Boris Johnson was “a symptom of the problems we face, not the cause of them”. “People are tired of platitudes and empty rhetoric. It is not enough to love our country, our people or our party,” he wrote in the Times. “What is missing is an intellectual understanding of what is required to run the country in an era of increased polarization, protectionism and populism fueled by social media.”

Grant Shapps

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has ruled out a new general election and is proposing tax cuts for businesses hit by rising energy costs (PA wire) Transport secretary Grant Shapps – who was among a delegation of ministers said to have told Johnson to resign on Wednesday shortly after the prime minister’s horrific liaison committee grilling – became the first Tory MP to announce plans to stand for the weekend leadership. “We have had two and a half years of tactical governance from an often distracted center. This has to end. We need to be a strategic government, sober in our analysis and not chasing the next title,” Mr Shapps told the Sunday Times. Mr Shapps’ aim is reportedly to tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild the UK economy to be the biggest in Europe by 2050. He has ruled out a general election if he wins, but will produce an emergency budget within the first 100 days to cut taxes for the most vulnerable and provide state support to businesses with high levels of energy consumption, the newspaper said on Saturday.

Nadhim Zahawi

Nadhim Zahawi says his ‘goal is simple’ (AFP via Getty Images) Newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi also announced his intention to run for the leadership on Saturday, pledging to “steady the ship and stabilize the economy”. This year since delivering a potential coup to Mr Johnson’s premiership in a damning letter on Thursday morning – less than 36 hours after accepting the No 11 role – Mr Zahawi has pledged to cut taxes for individuals, families and businesses , boost defense spending and continue education reforms. On his bid to become leader, Mr Zahawi said: “My aim is simple: to provide the opportunities that were given to my generation, to all Britons, whoever you are and wherever you come from. To stabilize the ship and to stabilize the economy. “Thanks to Brexit, we are now a free nation. Let’s not just talk about the opportunities ahead, let’s seize them. “If a young boy, who came here at the age of 11 without a word of English, can serve at the highest levels of Her Majesty’s government and run to become the next prime minister, anything is possible.”

Liz Truss

(AFP via Getty Images)

While the Foreign Secretary has yet to announce her campaign, the Mail on Sunday reported that Liz Truss was throwing her hat into the Tory leadership ring and would offer “classic Tory principles”. Mrs Truss will reverse the government’s rise in national insurance, cut corporation tax and introduce measures to ease the cost of living crisis when she announces her campaign, the paper said. The announcement is expected on Monday, the newspaper said, adding that Ms Truss will pledge to be the only candidate who can emulate Mr Johnson’s performance in the 2019 election, espousing “classical conservative principles”. The foreign secretary – long seen as a possible successor to the prime minister because of her popularity with the Tory base – was on a trip to Indonesia while Mr Johnson’s dramatic fallout unfolded this week and broke her remarkable silence on the matter only after his resignation speech. , to say that he had “made the right decision”.

title: “All Tory Mps In The Race To Replace Boris Johnson As Leader So Far " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Ed Foss”

The outgoing prime minister finally admitted it was time to step down on Thursday after more than 50 MPs resigned from government and party roles over his behaviour. The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has been dogged by a string of scandals throughout his leadership since 2019, but the latest nail in the coffin came after it emerged he promoted Tory MP Chris Pincher despite knowledge of allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Johnson said he would remain as prime minister in a caretaker role until a new Conservative Party leader is announced by the autumn. The contest to succeed Mr Johnson has been described by one Tory politician as the “crazy races” – with up to 15 MPs announcing their candidates or preparing to launch a campaign. To take part, candidates need eight nominations. Candidates must then receive 5 percent of the vote to remain in the running — 18 votes — in the first round. They must get 10 percent, 36 MPs, in the second round. Senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the Committee’s 1922 backbenchers during the 2019 contest, suggested leadership candidates who have “no hope” of winning should quit now and help “thin out” the crowded field. Here are all the Tory MPs who have launched leadership campaigns so far:

Rishi Sunak

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak is a public favorite to be the next Tory leader (Daniel Leal/AP) Mr Sunak entered the Tory leadership race pledging to “restore trust” after Boris Johnson’s multiple scandals, but with a warning that the country cannot afford early tax cuts. The former chancellor also hinted he would end the “culture wars” the current prime minister enjoyed fighting, promising: “We are sick of division.” Stealing a march on his rivals, Mr Sunak emerged as the fiscally responsible candidate, resisting the clamor for tax cuts. Mr Sunak also created a website, ready4rishi.com, which – as The Independent exclusively revealed in January – debuted in September 2020. At the time, sources close to Mr Sunak described the claims, along with those that the chancellor had prepared a leadership campaign, as “completely false”.

Suella Braverman

Attorney General Suella Braverman is one of the few to publicly state her intentions (Aaron Chown/PA) About 12 hours before Johnson finally accepted the inevitable and announced that he was resigning as prime minister, the first candidate to succeed him had already been announced. Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, Attorney General Suella Braverman said she planned to stay in her position for the greater good of the country, but slammed Johnson for mishandling the Chris Pincher sexual harassment scandal that ultimately proved his undoing. She then signaled her intention to run for the leadership, saying: “I love this country, my parents came here with absolutely nothing and it was Britain that gave them hope, security and opportunity. “This country has provided me with incredible opportunities in my education and career. I owe this country a debt of gratitude and serving as prime minister would be the greatest honor, so yes, I will try.” Within hours of Mr Johnson’s rude resignation speech the following afternoon, she already had a Twitter account promoting her campaign up and running.

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat, ex-soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has said he will “bridge the Brexit divide” if elected (Niall Carson/PA) Tory MP Tom Tugendhat wasted little time declaring his intention to join the race, declaring his intentions the day after Mr Johnson resigned. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Tugendhat, 49, said: “I am putting together a broad coalition of colleagues that will bring new energy and ideas to government and finally bridge the Brexit divide that has dominated our recent history. “I have served in the past – in the army and now in parliament. Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister. It’s time for a clean start. It’s time for renewal.” He made his first pitch to Scottish Tory members the following day, stressing the need for “serious and proven leadership” to make the party a success in Scotland.

Kemi Badenoch

Former Equality Minister Kemi Badenoch has promised tax cuts and declared her opposition to ‘identity politics’ (HM Treasury) Former Equality Minister Kemi Bandenos became the fourth candidate to throw her hat in the ring on Friday – promising tax cuts and declaring her opposition to “identity politics”. The Saffron Walden MP said she supported lower taxes “to stimulate growth and productivity and to be accompanied by strict spending discipline”. Vowing to run against the revival, she also hit out at “identity politics” and said Boris Johnson was “a symptom of the problems we face, not the cause of them”. “People are tired of platitudes and empty rhetoric. It is not enough to love our country, our people or our party,” he wrote in the Times. “What is missing is an intellectual understanding of what is required to run the country in an era of increased polarization, protectionism and populism fueled by social media.”

Grant Shapps

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has ruled out a new general election and is proposing tax cuts for businesses hit by rising energy costs (PA Wire) Transport secretary Grant Shapps – who was among a delegation of ministers said to have told Johnson to resign on Wednesday shortly after the prime minister’s horrific liaison committee grilling – became the first Tory MP to announce plans to stand for the weekend leadership. “We have had two and a half years of tactical governance from an often distracted center. This has to end. We need to be a strategic government, sober in our analysis and not chasing the next title,” Mr Shapps told the Sunday Times. Mr Shapps’ aim is reportedly to tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild the UK economy to be the biggest in Europe by 2050. He has ruled out a general election if he wins, but will produce an emergency budget within the first 100 days to cut taxes for the most vulnerable and provide state support to businesses with high levels of energy consumption, the newspaper said on Saturday.

Nadhim Zahawi

Nadhim Zahawi says his ‘goal is simple’ (AFP via Getty Images) Newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi also announced his intention to run for the leadership on Saturday, pledging to “steady the ship and stabilize the economy”. This year since delivering a potential coup to Mr Johnson’s premiership in a damning letter on Thursday morning – less than 36 hours after accepting the No 11 role – Mr Zahawi has pledged to cut taxes for individuals, families and businesses , boost defense spending and continue education reforms. On his bid to become leader, Mr Zahawi said: “My aim is simple: to provide the opportunities that were given to my generation, to all Britons, whoever you are and wherever you come from. To stabilize the ship and to stabilize the economy. “Thanks to Brexit, we are now a free nation. Let’s not just talk about the opportunities ahead, let’s seize them. “If a young boy, who came here at the age of 11 without a word of English, can serve at the highest levels of Her Majesty’s government and run to become the next prime minister, anything is possible.”

Liz Truss

(AFP via Getty Images)

While the Foreign Secretary has yet to announce her campaign, the Mail on Sunday reported that Liz Truss was throwing her hat into the Tory leadership ring and would offer “classic Tory principles”. Mrs Truss will reverse the government’s rise in national insurance, cut corporation tax and introduce measures to ease the cost of living crisis when she announces her campaign, the paper said. The announcement is expected on Monday, the newspaper said, adding that Ms Truss will pledge to be the only candidate who can emulate Mr Johnson’s performance in the 2019 election, espousing “classical conservative principles”. The foreign secretary – long seen as a possible successor to the prime minister because of her popularity with the Tory base – was on a trip to Indonesia while Mr Johnson’s dramatic fallout unfolded this week and broke her remarkable silence on the matter only after his resignation speech. , to say that he had “made the right decision”.