AS Boris Johnson circles the drain, speculation has been mounting about who could replace him.
And people aren’t only talking about who could become the next prime minister, they are also debating who could fill in as interim leader.
While Johnson has insisted he plans to stay on until the Conservative Party can elect a replacement, there have been mounting calls from top Tories for him to leave No 10 immediately.
The question then remains: Who could be interim prime minister?
Some of the suggestions have been bleak but sensible enough: Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab or former prime minister Theresa May could take the reins.
Others have barely been based in reality, such as the suggestion that Ruth Davidson takes on the top job.
The former Scottish Conservative leader has been seriously pitched as an option, with the BBC even discussing the possibility of PM Davidson on Radio Five Live.
“The speculation has begun on who may lead the Conservative Party and henceforth the United Kingdom and Ruth Davidson was suggested by a listener a few moments ago,” the BBC host said.
“We talk about the lack of popularity of Boris Johnson in Scotland, but how did she do? She did well didn’t she, relatively anyway, as leader of the Conservative Party up there.
“What’s her situation at the moment, is there any chance at all that she may end up throwing her hat into the ring?”
That listener wasn’t the only one to have pitched the suggestion. Some on Twitter have also been touting the Baroness as an interim leader.
“This ersatz PM is a real liability and he must go. Here's a thought – put Ruth Davidson in as a caretaker leader! She's handy enough,” one user wrote.
“Bring on Ruth Davidson to see us through!” another added.
I just did this poll on my timeline. Ruth Davidson from the House of Lords. It has to be someone who doesn’t intend to stand for the Tory leadership afterwards.
— Citizen of Nowhere ✪ (@CitznOfNowhere) July 7, 2022
“Ruth Davidson would make a great PM and NS [Nicola Sturgeon] thought she had won a watch the day she left for the HoL’s come back Ruth ur country needs u. Tories could even have a good chance in Scotland with her as PM,” a third actually posted.
But the chances of Davidson somehow taking power from the same prime minister who gave her a peerage seem slim.
Asked about the suggestion of the Baroness becoming interim leader, Douglas Ross told STV he did not think it was “particularly realistic”.
At least he’s finally got one thing right.
