Boris Johnson’s prospective successors to lead the Conservative Party and the country are quietly starting their leadership campaigns after the prime minister announced his resignation on Thursday.
No clear front-runner emerged in the tense first few hours after the prime minister’s unusual resignation speech outside Hall No 10, during which he mourned the “eccentric” Tory rebellion that finally forced him to resign.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and former cabinet minister Michael Gove, described by a Number 10 source as a “snake” after he turned on Mr Johnson, have ruled themselves out, The Independent understands.
But about a dozen lawmakers are believed to be preparing campaigns or seeking support. The crowded race threatens to become akin to “wacky racing”, backbencher Steve Brain said.
Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat became the first challenger to throw his hat into the ring on Thursday night. The chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, who has never been in government, said he would offer the party a “fresh start”.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he said: “I am assembling a broad coalition of peers that will bring new energy and ideas to government and finally overcome the Brexit divide that has dominated our recent history.”
Mr Tugendhat earlier received a big boost over Jeremy Hunt in his bid to win the support of moderate Tories when Damien Green, leader of the One Nation faction, backed him to be the next prime minister.
Mr Green told Sky News: “Having a fresh start with someone who is not in the Cabinet and is determined to restore the highest standards will be exactly what the country wants… You can assume that Tom will apply.”
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and former health secretary Sajid Javid effectively launched their bids for the top job by stepping down on Tuesday night. However, both contenders kept their heads down as the Prime Minister finally accepted that the game was over on Thursday.
Ben Wallace also remained silent, defending his decision to remain defense secretary as a “duty to keep this country safe”. He is seen as a favorite among members, topping this week’s Conservative Home online survey of the party’s lowest echelons.
Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt – who is understood to have appointed her campaign team – is also seen as a serious contender. The ardent Leave campaigner came second to Mr Wallace in this week’s mass poll.
Mr Hunt, the former health secretary who was understood to be keen on a second leadership bid, remained silent on Thursday – despite posting a selfie on Instagram in which he appeared serious on the phone.
Nadhim Zahawi is also believed to be considering a leadership bid, despite the tumultuous 48 hours that saw him announced as chancellor on Tuesday, before returning to Downing Street the following evening to inform Mr Johnson that his time has expired.
Mr Zahawi has been working “in secret” with close allies of Tory election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby on a possible leadership campaign for months, according to The Times.
It is not yet clear whether Home Secretary Priti Patel or Transport Minister Grant Shapps can throw their hats in the ring. Johnson loyalists were also part of a delegation of ministers who headed to Number 10 on Wednesday night to tell the prime minister his time was up.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who remained in 2016 and boosted her standing with Brexiteers with her tough stance on the protocol, cut short a trip to Indonesia on Thursday and called for “calm and unity” in the coming weeks.
Tory ally Alec Shellbrook said he would back Ms Truss for leader. “When I look at what we need to do to help deliver the manifesto, to get these benefits from Brexit … Liz Truss will be the best person to deliver that,” the Remain campaigner said.
Steve Baker, the self-proclaimed Brexit “hardliner”, has said he is considering throwing his hat in the ring. Asked by TalkTV who would be in his first cabinet, the former European Research Group (ERG) chairman named Mr Wallace and Mr Sunak – saying the former chancellor had “unrealised potential”.
Jake Berry, leader of the Northern Research Group (NRG), is also believed to be considering a leadership bid. Despite being in parliament since 2010, he remains an influential figure among many of the “red wall” MPs who won seats in the North and Midlands in 2019.
There has been speculation that the intake of younger MPs in 2019 could be negotiated as a “new generation” candidate. But one MP from the group told The Independent there was currently no plan for anyone to come forward.
Attorney General Suella Braverman told ITV’s Peston on Wednesday that she would put her name in the ring. Braverman’s Twitter account for the Prime Minister appeared on Thursday – with Tory MP Sir Desmond Swain becoming the first to back her candidacy.
Despite the apparent popularity of Mr Wallace and Ms Mordaunt in mass polls, former No 10 pollster James Johnson shared a wider survey of the general public which showed Mr Sunak was the most popular choice for prime minister.
Around 14 per cent of voters chose the former chancellor as their top choice in the JL Partners poll, ahead of Mr Javid and Mr Hunt (both on 7 per cent) and Ms Truss and Mr Wallace (both on 4 percent).
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is not running, blasted Mr Sunak’s legacy in an interview with Channel 4 – claiming he was “not a successful chancellor” and a “high-tax chancellor”.
Mr Wallace beat all other contenders in the latest YouGov poll of Tory members, who will ultimately decide who becomes prime minister when they are presented with a final two candidates in late July or early August.
The executive director of the 1922 Committee is under pressure to reduce the initial field of candidates to two by July 21, when Parliament is in recess for the summer.
The process of electing members is expected to last about a month before a new leader – and a new prime minister – is chosen by early September.
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