The front-runner in the tense and polarising race to succeed Boris Johnson, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, launched his campaign on Tuesday with the promise of “honesty.”
Following Johnson’s forced announcement that he would resign when support dried up for him due to a slew of scandals, an initial 11 contenders put their names up to lead the ruling Conservative Party and become the next prime minister of Britain.
The only candidates who will advance to the first round on Wednesday are those who receive nominations from 20 of their 358 Conservative parliamentary colleagues on Tuesday. The last two candidates will then be selected after a swift narrowing of the field by Conservative Party members.
It stated that the winner and new prime minister of Britain would be declared on September 5.
The rules for the contest were approved by the 1922 Committee of Conservative members of parliament on Monday. They stated that the field would soon be narrowed with additional votes in the coming weeks and the final two would be presented to the party by July 21.
Tuesday will see the introduction of a resolution of no confidence in the government from the main opposition Labour Party in an effort to remove Johnson from office immediately. Although some Conservatives have expressed worry about Johnson staying as prime minister, it is quite doubtful that they will vote in favour of it on Wednesday.
Grant Shapps, the transport minister, was the first to abandon his campaign and support Sunak, whose resignation helped spark the uprising of ministers and Conservative legislators that compelled Johnson to announce his departure last week.
