Boris Johnson on Thursday announced his resignation as the Prime Minister of Britain following calls from ministerial colleagues and lawmakers in Conservative Party.
Theresa May was succeeded as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister by Mr. Johnson in July 2019. He guided the party to a landslide win in the general election of December 2019 and the largest Tory majority since Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
However, scandals and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the UK suffering the highest death toll in western Europe and Mr. Johnson requiring urgent care after getting the virus in April 2020, damaged his time in power.
Over the findings that Mr. Johnson and his staff at 10 Downing Street had a number of parties and social gatherings throughout the pandemic while Britain was subject to stringent lockdown regulations, Mr. Johnson lost the backing of many Conservative MPs.
When it turned out that Mr. Johnson was aware of an investigation into the predatory behaviour of disgraced MP Chris Pincher, but denied being aware of the alleged events, failed to take action as a result, and even promoted him, it was the last straw.
who are the frontrunners now?
10 Tory members of Parliament have indicated they will seek their party’s support to become the next prime minister—here’s who could be the next resident of 10 Downing Street.
- Rishi Sunak(former chancellor of the exchequer)
Sunak, the UK's first Hindu finance minister, has long been seen as Johnson's most likely successor. However, his prospects were marred earlier this year by questions about his personal assets and his family's tax arrangements.
When ishi Sunak, then 39, was named the next chancellor of the exchequer, or treasurer, in February 2020, it marked the culmination of a swift ascent from the backbenches.
Some British media outlets have estimated Mr. Sunak's net worth at 200 million pounds ($379 million), but this could partly be due to his wife Akshata Murthy, who is the daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, who founded IT company Infosys. Mr. Sunak worked as a banker and hedge fund manager before becoming an MP in 2015.
-former foreign secretary)
Former foreign and health secretary Hunt, who had lost to Johnson in 2019, confirmed on Saturday that he will run again.
For the past two years, Mr Hunt has used his experience as a former health secretary to chair Parliament's health select committee, untainted by his service in the current government.
Earlier this year, he said his ambition to become prime minister "hasn't completely disappeared".
Hunt said he voted to fire Johnson in a confidence vote last month.
- Liz Truss — Foreign Secretary
The Foreign Secretary is widely expected to stand by Truss, but has not yet said so.
The 46-year-old is popular among Conservative members for her outspokenness. However, questions about her judgment were raised for the same reason when she encouraged the British to fight in Ukraine in February.
-former health secretary)
Javid, who stepped down as health secretary on Tuesday and previously resigned as finance minister in 2020, announced his candidacy on Saturday.
Javid was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in Johnson's first cabinet when he entered office in July 2019. Six months later, Javid resigned after receiving an ultimatum from Johnson and adviser Dominic Cummings to fire his own advisors.
Chancellor of the Exchequer)
Recently named Back Serve Zahavi was lauded for managing the roll-out of widespread immunizations in Britain some time recently heading the Office for Education. The 55-year-old may be a previous displaced person from Iraq who came to Britain as a child talking no English. Some time recently entering legislative issues, he co-founded driving surveying company YouGov.
The 49-year-old chairs parliament's influential foreign affairs committee, which first launched his bid.
The former military officer, who served in the Middle East, is also a China hawk and has criticized the government's handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Tugendhat is pitching himself as a "clean start" after Johnson's turbulent three-year tenure.
former defence secretary)
Mordaunt, 49, the first woman UK defense secretary and currently trade minister, is the latest to join the fray in a video posted on social media on Sunday.
-Attorney-General)
Braverman, the attorney general and arch Brexiteer, announced his campaign in media interviews.The 42-year-old is popular within the party for her Euroscepticism.
Recently named Back Serve Zahavi was lauded for managing the roll-out of widespread immunizations in Britain some time recently heading the Office for Education. The 55-year-old may be a previous displaced person from Iraq who came to Britain as a child talking no English. Some time recently entering legislative issues, he co-founded driving surveying company YouGov.
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