Sunak closes in on Johnson’s layoff
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Video above: Truss resigns as UK Prime Minister. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is the front-runner to become Britain’s next prime minister days — or even hours — after former leader Boris Johnson dropped out of the race for the Conservative Party leadership. Following the resignation of Liz Truss last week, the ruling party is electing Britain’s third prime minister this year amid political upheaval and severe economic challenges. The 42-year-old Sunak is the only candidate confirmed by the support of more than 100 lawmakers, the number needed to participate in the elections. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt has far fewer votes of support but is aiming to reach the threshold by the time nominations close at 2pm. If Mordaunt fails to get 100 nominations, Sunak will win by acclamation and could move to 10 Downing Street by Monday. evening If both come to a vote, the 357 conservative lawmakers will hold an indicative vote on Monday to show their preference. If none of them come out after that, the choice will go to the party’s 172,000 members across the country and the result will be announced on Friday. Mardaunt will be under intense pressure to step aside and not force a membership vote if Sunak is a strong favorite among lawmakers. Chief Minister Grant Shapps, a Sunak supporter, said the former Treasury chief did not think he had the contest “in the bag.” “. “He’s talking to colleagues this morning, he’s working really hard to bring in those fans who may have been with Boris Johnson before,” Shapps said. “But look, I’ll leave that to Penny, she’s a great colleague. We’ll see what will happen.” Sunak, who finished second to Truss in this summer’s Tory leadership race to replace Johnson, promised “integrity, professionalism and accountability” if he forms a government — in contrast to the chaos that has engulfed the past two years. Prem prime ministers. Johnson abruptly left the race on Sunday night, ending a short-lived, high-profile bid to return to the prime ministership from which he was ousted just over three months ago amid ethics scandals. Johnson spent the weekend trying to to win support from fellow Conservatives after returning from a Caribbean holiday. He said late on Sunday that he had the support of 102 colleagues. But he was well behind Sunak in support and said he had come to the conclusion that “you cannot effectively to govern if you don’t have a united party in parliament.” The prospect of Johnson’s return has thrown the already divided Conservative Party into further turmoil. He led the party to a stunning election victory in 2019, but his premiership was marred by scandals over money and ethics that eventually became too much for the party. In a statement on Sunday, Johnson insisted he was “well placed to deliver Conservative victory” at the next national election in 2024. And he said he would probably have won the vote of Conservative Party members against any of his rivals. “But in recent days I’ve unfortunately come to the conclusion that it would just be wrong,” he said. However, he hinted that he could return, saying: “I believe I have something to offer, but I’m afraid , that it’s just not the right time.” Truss stepped down Thursday after a turbulent 45 days in office, admitting she had failed to deliver on her failed economic package of tax cuts, which she was forced to abandon after it sparked fury in her party and weeks of turmoil in financial markets. Sunak, who was the chancellor’s chancellor from 2020 until this summer, presided over the collapse of Britain’s economy through the coronavirus pandemic. He resigned in July in protest at Johnson’s leadership. Unrest in the Conservative Party are fueling calls for a national election.Under Britain’s parliamentary system, it does not need to be set up until the end of 2024, although the government has the power to call it sooner.At present, that looks unlikely one. Opinion polls show the election would spell disaster for the Conservatives, with the centre-left Labor Party winning a large majority.
Video above: Truss resigns as UK Prime Minister
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is the strong favorite to become Britain’s next prime minister days – or even hours – after former leader Boris Johnson dropped out of the race for the Conservative Party leadership.
Following the resignation of Liz Truss last week, the ruling party is electing Britain’s third prime minister this year amid political upheaval and severe economic challenges.
Sunak, 42, is the only candidate with the confirmed support of more than 100 lawmakers, the number needed to run for office. House of Commons leader Penny Mardaunt has far fewer votes of support but is aiming to hit the threshold by the time nominations close at 2pm.
If Mardaunt fails to reach 100 nominations, Sunak will win by acclamation and could move to Downing Street, 10 by Monday night.
If both come to a vote, the 357 conservative lawmakers will hold an indicative vote on Monday to show their preference. If none of them subsequently withdraw, the election will go to 172,000 party members across the country, the result announced on Friday.
Mardaunt will be under intense pressure to step aside and not force a membership vote if Sunak is a strong favorite among lawmakers.
Home Secretary Grant Shapps, a Sunak supporter, said the former Treasury chief did not think the competition was “in the bag”.
“He’s talking to colleagues this morning, he’s working very hard to bring in those supporters who may have been with Boris Johnson before,” Shapps said. “But look, I’ll leave that to Penny, she’s a wonderful colleague. Let’s see what will happen.”
Sunak, who finished second to Truss in this summer’s Tory leadership race to replace Johnson, has promised “integrity, professionalism and accountability” if he forms a government — in contrast to the chaos that engulfed the last two prime ministers.
Johnson abruptly left the race on Sunday night, ending a short-lived, high-profile bid to return to the prime ministership from which he was ousted just over three months ago amid ethics scandals.
Johnson spent the weekend trying to drum up support from fellow Conservatives after flying back from a Caribbean vacation. Late Sunday, he said he had the support of 102 colleagues. But he was far behind Sunak in support and said he had concluded that “you cannot govern effectively if you don’t have a single party in parliament”.
The prospect of Johnson’s return has thrown the already divided Conservative Party into further turmoil. He led the party to a stunning victory in the 2019 election, but his premiership was marred by money and ethics scandals that eventually became too much for the party.
In a statement on Sunday, Johnson insisted he was “well placed to deliver a Conservative victory” at the next national election, due in 2024. And he said he would probably have won the vote of Conservative Party members against any of his rivals.
“But over the last few days, I’ve unfortunately come to the conclusion that it would just be wrong,” he said.
However, he hinted that he could return, saying: “I believe I have something to offer, but I’m afraid it’s just not the right time.”
Truss resigned on Thursday after a turbulent 45 days in office, admitting she had failed to deliver on her failed economic package of tax cuts, which she was forced to abandon after it sparked fury in her party and weeks of upheaval on financial markets.
Sunak, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 until this summer, presided over the collapse of the UK economy through the coronavirus pandemic. He resigned in July in protest at Johnson’s leadership.
The unrest in the Conservative Party is fueling demands for a national election. Under the British parliamentary system, it does not have to be created until the end of 2024, although the government has the right to convene it earlier.
At present, this looks unlikely. Opinion polls show the election would spell disaster for the Conservatives, with the centre-left Labor Party winning a large majority.
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