Liz Truss stepped down as UK Prime Minister after just 45 days on Thursday. For the fourth time in more than six years, the British are looking for a new political leader. These are the possible candidates mentioned.
Rishi Sunak
If Mart Smeets or Jack van Gelder had reported on British politics, Sunak would have been asked the question: “What’s on your mind now?” 42-year-old Sunak lost to Truss in early September in the battle for the succession of resigned Boris Johnson (more on that later).
In election debates, Sunak warned about Truss’s tax plans. He predicted they would prove disastrous, and he was right. Sunak was the most popular candidate among Conservative MPs. But when all 170,000 party members were allowed to vote, he had no chance against Truss.
Perhaps Sunak now wants to prove that he has always been the best choice. Then of course he still has to feel like it, 45 days after his death. He hasn’t talked about it publicly yet. But political allies are sure of it still Want to give a try.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Photo: AFP
Penny Mordaunt
Mordaunt was the last to be eliminated from the Truss-Sunak battle in the previous election. He was in the top two until the last primary. At the crucial moment she was overtaken by Truss, who then defeated Sunak as well.
With Truss coming forward in record time, Mordaunt is the most obvious challenger by Sunak. She became one of Johnson’s fiercest opponents during Johnson’s premiership. Johnson and Sunak were often beaten for attending illegal parties during the blockade. Mordaunt called it “shameful”.
Mordaunt, 49, was previously the first female defense minister. She is seen in the corridors as the person who can restore the divided conservative party partner.
Penny Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt Photo: Reuters
Jeremy Hunt
Hunt has since announced that he not considering to follow up on Truss. Yet it’s not inconceivable that the ambitious Hunt will still candidate. In 2019 he has already tried to become party leader (and therefore prime minister) on behalf of the conservatives. He then lost to Johnson. Earlier this year, he did not participate in the battle for his successor.
After Kwasi Kwarteng’s resignation last week, Hunt was appointed finance minister. Hunt was already called “the real Prime Minister. ”The first thing he did was almost all of his predecessor’s tax plans canceled to produce. This has also led to the pressure on Truss becoming too great.
The 55-year-old Hunt hasn’t been particularly popular until now, not even within his own party. A commonly used nickname it is obtained if the first letter of his surname is replaced by a “C”. This results in a rude English swear word. His first reign as finance minister seems to have gained him some popularity. But this is not (yet) enough to run for the highest office.
Boris Johnson
Nothing would embody chaos in British politics better than a Johnson return. A few months after his resignation as prime minister, his name is already singing around. And it’s more than a whisper in the corridors.
In his farewell speech, Johnson hinted that he felt he could stay as prime minister. He is still very popular with many party members. Others are not expecting his return at all.
According to political commentators, Johnson has already decided to run. He would like to believe that it is “a matter of national concern”. However, first try to gauge how much support it actually would have.
