Who can replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of the UK? Below is a brief overview of those who have announced their desire to run for the position, along with others who may be potential candidates. This race comes after Johnson announced on Thursday that he is set to resign in response to calls from his government colleagues and Conservative Party members of Parliament. No candidate appears to have an overwhelming advantage, and the names are not arranged in that order; the rules governing the leadership race will be announced next week.
Confirmed Contestants:
**Kemi Badenoch**
Badenoch was first elected to Parliament in 2017 and has held state minister positions, including recently as Minister for Equalities, but she has not held cabinet positions. She also served as Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party and supported Brexit in 2016.
**Suella Braverman**
Braverman (42) is the Attorney General and has faced strong criticism from lawyers after the government sought to violate international law regarding trade rules in Northern Ireland post-Brexit. She participated in the pro-Brexit campaign and served as a state minister under former Prime Minister Theresa May but resigned in protest against May's proposed exit agreement, stating it did not go far enough in severing ties with the EU.
**Grant Shapps**
Shapps was first elected to Parliament in 2005 and has served as State Minister for Transport since Johnson took office in 2019. He has previously held several state minister posts and was co-chair of the Conservative Party. Shapps, a loyal defender of Johnson, often appeared in the media on behalf of the government. Upon announcing his candidacy through The Sunday Times, he stated his goal is to address the cost of living crisis, pledging to implement an emergency budget in his first 100 days to reduce taxes on the most vulnerable and provide government support for businesses with high energy consumption. Shapps supported remaining in the EU before the 2016 referendum.
**Rishi Sunak**
Sunak announced his candidacy on Friday in a video clip where he promised to address the economic crisis with "honesty, seriousness, and determination," rather than burdening future generations. The 42-year-old, who was appointed Chancellor in early 2020, was praised for an economic rescue package during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included a job retention scheme that prevented mass unemployment. However, he later faced criticism for not providing enough support for families struggling with the cost of living. His wealthy wife's tax situation and the fine he received alongside Johnson for breaching COVID-19 lockdown rules reduced his chances. His government policy regarding tax increases or collections to boost public spending put Britain on track last year for its largest tax haul since the 1950s, undermining his claims about preferring tax cuts. Sunak voted for Brexit in 2016.
**Tom Tugendhat**
The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tugendhat is a former officer in the army who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, he is relatively untested as he has not held cabinet positions. The 49-year-old has been a consistent critic of Johnson and will present his party with a proposal for a complete break from previous administrations. Tugendhat stated he did not support the increase in national insurance and noted that the fuel tax "burdens" many people. He voted to remain in the EU.
**Nadhim Zahawi**
The newly appointed Chancellor gained the title of vaccine minister when the UK was one of the fastest countries worldwide to launch COVID-19 vaccination programs. Zahawi's personal story as a former Iraqi refugee who came to Britain as a child distinguishes him from other Conservative competitors. He co-founded YouGov before entering Parliament in 2010. His last position was Minister of Education. Zahawi (55) claims that the tax burden is too heavy, adding that he would reduce taxes for individuals, families, and businesses. He supported Brexit.
**Jeremy Hunt**
The former Foreign Secretary (55) was the runner-up to Johnson in the 2019 leadership race. He can offer a more serious and less controversial leadership style following the turbulence of Johnson's tenure. Over the past two years, Hunt has utilized his experience as a former health minister to chair the health committee in Parliament, and his image remains untarnished due to his service in the current government. Hunt stated he voted to oust Johnson during a confidence vote last month, which Johnson won by a narrow margin. Hunt pledged to implement tax cuts, including a 15% reduction in corporate tax, arguing that lowering business taxes would aid economic growth while lowering consumer taxes could increase inflation. Hunt supported remaining in the EU before the 2016 vote.
**Sajid Javid**
The first minister to resign in protest over allegations that Johnson misled the public regarding what he knew about sexual harassment allegations against a Conservative MP, the former banker and free-market advocate has held several ministerial positions, the latest of which was Secretary of State for Health. He resigned from the position of Chancellor in Johnson's government in 2020. The son of Pakistani Muslim immigrants and a fan of Margaret Thatcher, he came fourth in the race to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister in 2019. Javid (52) also stated he would reduce corporate tax by 15%, cancel an increase in national insurance, and raise income tax by one penny next year. He supported remaining in the EU, expressing concern that the repercussions of the vote to leave would exacerbate economic upheaval.
**Penny Mordaunt**
Johnson removed the former Defence Secretary after she supported his rival Hunt during the 2019 leadership race. Mordaunt (49) was a strong supporter of Brexit, stating she aims to seize the benefits of leaving the bloc and recover from recent economic shocks such as the pandemic. Currently serving as the Minister of State for Trade, Mordaunt described the parties held at government headquarters in violation of COVID-19 lockdown rules as "shameful," adding that if she were Prime Minister, leadership must change to become less focused on the leader.
Potential Candidates:
**Priti Patel**
Patel (50) has served as Home Secretary since Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019 and remained in government after the scandal that led to Johnson's downfall, indicating the importance of her role for national security. Patel was Secretary of State for International Development under May, but she was removed after a scandal involving unauthorized meetings with the Israeli government that violated ministerial law. She is known for her hardline stance on immigration and is a supporter of Brexit.
**Liz Truss**
The Foreign Secretary is highly popular within the Conservative Party and has regularly topped opinion polls conducted by the online site "Conservative Home." Truss has carefully cultivated her public image, having been photographed in a tank last year to evoke a famous image of Thatcher from 1986. She spent the first two years of Johnson's premiership as Secretary of State for International Trade and is now responsible for dealing with the EU regarding trade rules for Northern Ireland post-Brexit, taking an increasingly hardline stance in negotiations. Initially opposing Brexit, Truss (46) stated she changed her mind after the 2016 referendum.
