The procedure to elect the next Conservative leader and British Prime Minister began this Tuesday with the formal presentation of eight candidates, among whom the former Minister of Economy is already emerging as a clear favorite. Rishi Sunak.
The applicants needed the support of a minimum of 20 deputies to compete in a race that will end on September 5, when the name of the winner will be known, as ordered by the so-called 1922 Committee -the group of conservative parliamentarians without portfolio-.
Although Boris Johnson submitted his resignation last Thursday, he remains as interim head of government while his party carries out the relevant process to appoint his successor.
[Reino Unido conocerá al sucesor de Boris Johnson el 5 de septiembre: la carrera ‘tory’ comienza hoy]
Throughout the day, the proposals of the candidates were finalized today, including those of the former chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, who, with at least 45 support from colleagues, he unraveled in a speech his “long-term plans” if he were chosen.
This politician, perceived as one of the most solid options in the conservative leadership, is committed, as he said, to “eradicate inflation, make the economy grow and, later, cut taxes”, after arguing that “Tax cuts are not credible now.”
Sunak, at the head of the candidates
In addition, it ensures that it is “prepared to give everything for the nation and regain confidence, rebuild the economy and reunify the country”, although he warns that he does not intend to “demonize Boris Johnson”, of whom he highlighted his “good heart”.
Among his many endorsements, the country’s former economic chief will count in his campaign with that of Transport Minister Grant Shapps, who stepped down today from the race for leadership, and that of Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.
In a message posted on his Twitter account, Shapps stressed that “among a range of brilliant candidates”, Sunak “has the competence and experience to lead this country.
For his part, Raab also sponsored the proposal by the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who “has what it takes to lead the UK through these difficult economic times.”
In another speech in London, candidate and MP Tom Tugendhat, who is criticized for his lack of ministerial experience, promised a “clean start” and the introduction of a “energy resilience plan” with which “to ensure that the United Kingdom has energy produced at home, or extracted from reliable allies”.
Another of the candidates, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liz Truss, obtained the support of a minimum of 21 colleagues, including the Minister of Culture, Nadine Dorries, and the head of Opportunities for Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mog.
Both stressed that the head of the Foreign Office is “a stronger supporter of Brexit” than the two of them together and “He has consistently fought for low-tax policies.”
Also in the official race for leadership are the British Secretary of State for Trade, Penny Mordaunt; the state attorney general, Suella Braverman; former Foreign and Health Minister Jeremy Hunt; the current Minister of the Economy, Nadhim Zahawi, and the Secretary of State for Equality, Kemi Badenoch.
Eliminate Johnson
While the “Tories” are struggling to define their future, the Labor Party, the main opposition group, today presented a motion of censure against the Government in Parliament, with the intention of holding a vote tomorrow in order to remove Johnson from power immediately.
However, the Executive has refused to grant Labor the necessary time to be able to develop the debate on that motion -so it cannot be carried out-, considering that “the prime minister has already resigned and there is a leadership process underway, so we don’t think this is a valuable use of parliamentary time”.
The motion, which would force the colleagues in the ranks of the still acting “premier” to support the Executive or vote against it, could potentially have opened the door to a general election, something that the “Tories” fear, since they would risk lose the vast majority harvested in the 2019 elections.
Labor leader Keir Starmer stressed today that the Conservatives “They can’t, now, let (Johnson) hold on to the job for weeks and weeks until September 5. It would be intolerable for the country.”
This Wednesday the conservative deputies will vote in the first round among the eight candidates for the “tory” leadership, and whoever obtains less than 30 votes will be eliminated.
The second vote has been set for Thursday and there could be more next week until only two finalists are reached, including the bases “Tories” will elect their new leader in a postal vote and future prime minister.
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