potential contenders to claim the Tory crown assess whether they have the support to prepare leadership bids after the dramatic resignation of Boris Johnson†
With no clear frontrunner, about a dozen potential candidates — including backbenchers and ministers — are believed to pose a challenge.
Meanwhile, there is mounting pressure from senior conservatives for Mr Johnson to step down immediately if Prime Minister and not wait for the election of a new leader.
After the tumultuous events at Westminster, some MPs fears of a summer of “chaos” if Mr Johnson remains at number 10 as the leadership contest – which could last for weeks or even months – plays out.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major was one of the support requests for Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab be installed as outgoing Prime Minister until there is a permanent successor.
Alternatively, he proposed an abbreviated leadership contest where Tory MPs would choose the new leader to take office, while party members in the country would be asked to support their choice.
At Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Mr Johnson tried to reassure ministers that he would not try to implement any new policies during his remaining term in office and that he would leave important decisions on taxes and spending to the next prime minister.
But after making it clear that he was frustrated at how he was forced to leave by an unprecedented wave of ministerial resignations, many in the party remain deeply suspicious of his intentions.
In his resignation speech on the steps of No. 10, Johnson offered no remorse for the “partygate” scandals and Chris Pincher’s nomination as deputy head whip.
Instead, he angered many MPs by complaining about the “eccentric” move to oust him, and accused his tormentors of succumbing to a “herd mentality.”
George Freeman, one of the last ministers to quit before Johnson made his announcement, said the tone of his speech did not suggest he would spend his time “pretty humble and remorseful”.
“My real concern is that the instability will fuel a feverish moment of midsummer madness, where we rush to pick the wrong person because of the instability,” he said.
Elections will be held on Monday for the board of the backbench 1922 Committee, which will then set the rules and timetable for the leadership contest.
Under the current rules, MPs will vote in a series of secret ballots – depending on the number of candidates – with the last two going through to a Members’ vote.
Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, is the first candidate to throw in his hat, saying he is assembling a “broad coalition” that offers a “clean start”.
In The Daily Telegraph, the former soldier wrote: “I have served before – in the army and now in parliament. Now I hope to answer the call as prime minister again.”
Among the early favorites are former Chancellor Rishi Sunak – who quit on Tuesday to trigger a slew of ministerial resignations – and the man who succeeded him, Nadhim Zahawi.
In a sign of what will likely be a blood-curdling contest, Brexit options minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Johnson loyalist, launched a sharp attack on Mr Sunak’s record at the Treasury.
“Rishi Sunak was not a successful chancellor. He was a high-tax chancellor, and he was a chancellor who was not alert to the inflation problem,” he told Channel 4 News.
Elsewhere, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — who returned early from an international meeting in Indonesia — and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace are both believed to have significant support.
Other ministers considering a run include Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Attorney General Suella Braverman and Cabinet Secretary Penny Mordaunt.
From outside the government, former health minister Sajid Javid, who also stepped down on Tuesday, Jeremy Hunt, who came second to Johnson in 2019, and arch Brexiteer Steve Baker may also stand.