Six candidates will compete for the Tory leadership in the United Kingdom with Rishi Sunak as the favorite

Former British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak led this Wednesday the recount of the first vote among conservative deputies to elect the person who will replace Boris Johnson at the head of his party and, therefore, will become the new head of the Executive.

Sunak led the count, with 88 votes, although the former Defense Minister Penny Mordaunt, which is emerging strongly in recent hours, obtained a remarkable result by adding 67 supports. Two candidates fell out of the race after failing to obtain the minimum 30 votes required to stay in the running: current Finance Minister and Sunak’s successor, Nadhim Zahawi, and former Health Minister Jeremy Hunt.

The former Secretary of State for Equality also passed this first screening kemi Badenochwho got 40 votes, the state attorney general, His her bravemanwho was left with 32, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liz Trusswith 50, and Tom Tugendhat37.

Truss’s official spokeswoman told the result that “now is the time for colleagues to rally behind the candidate who will cut taxes, deliver the real economic change we need from day one, and make sure (Russian President , Vladimir) Putin loses in Ukraine”.

[Empieza el proceso para elegir al relevo de Johnson: ocho candidatos y Rishi Sunak como favorito]

The second vote has been set for tomorrow, Thursday, and there could be more next week until only two finalists are reached, among whom the “Tories” bases will choose their new leader and future prime minister in a mail-in vote.

The still acting Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was forced to resign on the 7th after more than 50 members of his Executive resigned in protest at his management and the scandals that dotted his leadership, such as the parties at the official residence 10 Downing Street during the pandemic.