eight candidates officially in the running to replace Boris Johnson

They are eight on the starting line. The race for Downing Street has officially started and there are eight Conservative candidates trying to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson after obtaining the necessary number of sponsorships on Tuesday July 12. The latter resigned Thursday after about sixty members of his executive slammed the door, tired of repeated scandals. However, he remains Prime Minister until his successor is known on 5 September.

Unsurprisingly, the former finance minister Rishi Sunakthe former Minister of Defense Penny Mordauntthe head of diplomacy Liz Truss and the deputy Tom Tugendhat have easily obtained the 20 supporters necessary to be officially candidates for the head of the Conservative party – and therefore for the post of Prime Minister, announced the 1922 committee, the Conservative parliamentary group responsible for establishing the rules of the ballot.

The new Minister of Finance Nadhim Zahawithe government’s legal adviser (“Attorney General”) Suella Bravermanthe former Secretary of State for Equality Kemi Badenoch and the former Minister of Health jeremy hunt are also in the running. On Tuesday morning, there were still eleven candidates to succeed Boris Johnson, but three of them, including former Health Minister Sajid Javid, withdrew as the closing date for applications approached.

As of Wednesday, the eight candidates will have to rally 30 deputies to their cause if they want to pass the first round of the vote. A second round is scheduled for Thursday and another, if necessary, for Monday. The objective is to have only two candidates left before the parliamentary holidays which begin on July 22. The name of the future Prime Minister will be known in September following a final vote open to party members. The bookmakers place neck and neck Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt, followed by Liz Truss.