Here’s a look at the potential contenders.
Rishi Sunak
The former chancellor has been Johnson’s presumptive successor for several months after winning praise for overseeing Britain’s initial economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic. But he has suffered many of his own scandals while in government. Sunak’s stock plunged earlier this year following revelations that he flouted Covid regulations to attend the prime minister’s birthday party on June 19, 2020, for which he later apologized “unreservedly”. His financial and legal affairs came under scrutiny this spring after reports that his wife had non-resident status in the UK — meaning she is not subject to income tax from abroad — and that she had a US green card while served as a minister. His popularity has also taken a hit in recent weeks as Britain has suffered its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Sunak has struggled to contain rising inflation and has been criticized by opposition parties for what they call a slow and inadequate series of economic measures. Among the economic woes facing Britons since Sunak’s time as UK Chancellor of the Exchequer: real wages are falling to their lowest levels in more than 21 years and inflation has hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in May. However, he is still among the betting favorites to take over Johnson’s job.
Sajid Javid
“This week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what everyone has told us. At some point, we have to come to the conclusion that enough is enough,” the former health secretary told the House of Commons on Wednesday, referring to the appointment and the allegations associated with Pincher. Something is wrong with the government, he added, and “the problem starts at the top.” Although Javid’s resignation speech sounded a lot like the prime minister, outlining how to reshape the party for future generations, it is not yet clear whether he will stand. But supporters of Javid’s candidacy hope he will be credited with sparking Johnson’s eventual ouster after he was the first cabinet minister to quit — although Sunak followed minutes later. The MP has stood for the party leadership twice before — in 2016, after the Brexit referendum, and in 2019, when Johnson was finally elected.
Liz Truss
The foreign minister, who has made her leadership ambitions known in recent years, could now be in pole position. Liz Truss voted Remain in 2016 but has since become one of the loudest Eurosceptic voices in government, which many agree with her desire for the top job. She has a formidable and dedicated team around her — some of whom previously worked at Number 10 — who produce stylish videos and photos of her that look downright political. She apparently tried to channel former prime minister Margaret Thatcher by wearing a headscarf while driving a tank, and her role in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also raised her public profile. Truss is popular among Conservative members, who would pick the eventual winner of a contest. But Johnson’s downfall could also tarnish anyone in his cabinet, meaning Conservative voters could turn to a backer to take up the mantle. Last month, a Foreign Office source told CNN that Truss had “endless meetings with MPs” and that “it has been implied that she is seeing what her support base is if the time comes”. Truss’s office denied any secret leadership bid was forthcoming.
Penny Mordant
The Trade Secretary is one of the bookmakers’ favorites to replace Johnson. A poll of party members published on July 4 by the website Conservative Home put her as the second favorite choice, behind current Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Mordan first entered parliament in 2010 and later joined Theresa May’s cabinet, serving as secretary of state for international development and defence. After last month’s confidence vote, Penny Mordant refused to comment on whether she backed Johnson, raising eyebrows at Westminster watchers when she said: “I didn’t choose this prime minister.”
Tom Tugdenhat
A former British army officer who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat has been one of Johnson’s most vocal critics and called on the Conservative Party to stop its focus on “divisive politics”. Tugendhat wrote: “I have served in the past — in the military 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 outlined his vision for tackling the cost of living crisis, cutting taxes and investing in neglected areas of the UK. Despite having no cabinet or shadow cabinet experience, Tugendhat has impressed his colleagues with his oratorical skills and seriousness, notably when he spoke about the fall of Afghanistan. He entered parliament in 2015 after serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some mainstream Conservatives have already backed the wild card, but some worry that his experience is too focused on foreign affairs.
Nadhim Zahawi
Less than two days after being appointed chancellor, replacing Sunak, Nahim Zahawi publicly called on Johnson to resign. “Do the right thing and go now,” he said in a statement on Twitter accompanying a letter to the prime minister.
Until his promotion, Zahawi, who joined the cabinet less than a year ago, was considered an unlikely choice as the next prime minister. But his rise under Johnson was rapid, making his mark with early success as vaccines minister amid the coronavirus pandemic and then as education secretary.
Despite voting to leave the European Union in 2016, Zahawi is widely admired among moderates in the party. Crucially, as one Conservative source said, “he hasn’t been in government long enough to have obvious flaws and, although he’s supporting Boris even after the confidence vote, he’s not too tainted by associations”.
Zahawi was born in Iraq to Kurdish parents and came to the UK aged 9 when his family fled Saddam Hussein’s regime. He is believed to be one of the richest politicians in the House of Commons and helped found the polling company YouGov.
Jeremy Hunt
Former health and foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt lost the 2019 leadership vote to Johnson. He has since cast himself as an antidote to Johnson and is arguably the highest-profile candidate on the moderate, former side of the party.
In a statement on Twitter ahead of June’s confidence vote, Hunt said: “Anyone who believes our country is stronger, fairer and more prosperous under Conservative leadership should consider that the consequence of not changing will be to hand over country to others who do not share these values. Today’s decision is change or lose. I will vote for change.”
Arguably, Hunt’s statement focused mainly on the Conservatives’ chances of electoral success under Johnson, rather than on his policies or the partygate scandal — a decision that could be read as a step for Tory MPs and MPs to decide a leadership election. But it comes with baggage, and sources in the opposition Labor Party told CNN they are already writing lines of attack.
“It can’t be Jeremy. Labor can say he ran healthcare for six years and failed to prepare for a pandemic. They can say when he was culture secretary he spoke to the Murdochs during the phone-hacking scandal .It’s going to crash,” a senior Conservative source told CNN.
Other possible candidates
Ben Wallace: Since being appointed Defense Secretary in 2019, Ben Wallace has won acclaim for his handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A former army chief, Wallace managed to avoid scandal and topped a recent Conservative Home poll of potential successors to Johnson. But it’s still unclear if he wants the job. He declined to comment on whether he would stand when speaking to reporters on Thursday.Michael Gove: The minister responsible for Johnson’s flagship ‘Levelling Up’ agenda to transform the UK’s neglected communities, Michael Gove has been sacked from the cabinet after urging Johnson to resign. Gove worked closely with Johnson on the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 before derailing his candidacy by fielding the party leader candidate – a move he last month called a “mistake”. He has said he won’t run again, but if the past is any indication, he could change his mind. Steve Baker: The anti-Green MP, who heads the European Research Group, which is credited with launching a hard Brexit, has confirmed he is considering a run for prime minister. Steve Baker told the Guardian that if he won, he would dismantle environmental policies and increase the country’s use and domestic production of natural gas. Suella Braverman: The attorney general has signaled her intention to enter a future contest. In an interview with ITV, Suella Braverman called on Johnson to step down and said she would join a leadership race to replace him, saying it would “be the greatest honour”. CNN’s Jorge Engels in London contributed to this report.
