The Guardian view on the Conservative party: whatever goes around comes around

Austen Chamberlain, William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith (left) and Michael Howard (right) have earned the dubious distinction of leading the Tories but not into Downing Street. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

By stepping down as Conservative party leader, Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on the race to replace him. It’s likely to be a long slog for the winner. The contest will run until 2 November, when a new leader will be unveiled just before the US election.

Those applying for the top job must submit their applications by Wednesday evening. Then will come months of campaigning, speechifying and, if fate allows, a star turn at the party conference. MPs will decide who will be the two final candidates. Members will have until Halloween to choose between them. Whoever wins faces a herculean task of reviving the Tories. The party’s general election defeat was the worst in its parliamentary history.