The race for Boris Johnson’s place as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began in earnest this Tuesday (12), with the definition of the eight candidates who will compete for the votes of the 358 parliamentarians from this Wednesday. From the initial list of 11 names, 1 withdrew and 2 were unable to overcome the rule of minimum 20 nominations among coreligionists.
Boris should remain in office until the end of the election. The 1922 Committee, the collegiate body responsible for the dispute, released the final list of eight candidates at the end of the afternoon (14:00 GMT). The first vote is scheduled for this Wednesday (13).
With the departure of Grant Shapps, Sajiv Javid and Rehman Chishti, Rishi Sunak, former finance secretary, remain in the race; Liz Truss, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of Foreign Trade; Suella Braverman, UK Attorney General; Nadhim Zahawi, former Secretary of Education; Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary; Tom Tugendhat, chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs; and MP Kemi Badenoch.
Sunak and Truss, prominent figures in the Boris administration, are considered the strongest competitors among lawmakers, while Mordaunt leads the polls among other party members. After a two-stage vote (parliamentary and affiliated), the name of the next prime minister is expected to be announced on 5 September.
One of the triggers that led to the resignation of Boris last week, after a series of scandals, the former finance minister launched his campaign supported by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and Shapps, incumbent. of Transport.
In his speech, Sunak praised Boris’ role as prime minister and repeated that an eventual tax cut will only occur when inflation, at 9.1%, is under control. The proposal goes against other competitors, who defend the immediate cut of rates in response to the increase in the cost of living.
“We need to have an adult conversation about the central question of this election that all candidates must answer: do you have a credible plan to protect our economy and grow it?” he said.
One of those advocating the tax cut is Truss, now Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Without carrying out an act to officially launch the candidacy, she saw her name being endorsed by secretaries Jacob Rees-Mogg (Brexit) and Nadine Dorries (Culture), two politicians close to Boris and belonging to the strictest wing of the pro-exit European Union. .
With a leading role in British diplomatic involvement in the Ukrainian War, Truss is the main face of the government behind the bill in the pipeline that allows the United Kingdom to disobey parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, signed with the EU in the Brexit deal. . “She is the best candidate, a real Eurosceptic. And she believes in low taxation,” said Rees-Mogg.
“Many conservatives reckon she is the person who can beat Sunak,” says Daniel Gover, a professor of British politics at Queen Mary University of London. “At the moment, Sunak is in a strong position, with great support in the party. But that doesn’t mean he will win because, in the format of the dispute, many vote for one name to bar another.”
According to the rules, as of this Wednesday, candidates compete for the vote of conservative parliamentarians. Those who obtain at least 30 votes advance to Thursday’s contest. Then, new votes are held, with the elimination of candidates with the fewest votes, one by one, until two remain. The expectation is that this process will be completed by the 21st, before the beginning of the summer recess in Parliament.
The campaign will then continue among the roughly 200,000 members of the Conservative Party, who choose the winner. The name of the person who will occupy the post of premier is due to be announced on 5 September.
