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The race to replace Boris Johnson: Everyone (we know) officially in the running to become Britain's new prime minister

Former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is among those in the running to replace Boris Johnson.  (Picture: Heathcliff O'Malley/The Daily Telegraph via AP)

Boris Johnson resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party on Thursday, triggering a search for a new British prime minister.

Unlike in Australian leadership spills, things don't move as quickly and a replacement for Mr Johnson will take some time to appoint — but that hasn't stopped Conservative MPs from throwing their hats in the ring just days after the announcement. 

So, who wants the gig?

Here is a list of everyone who has announced they want the job.

There is no clear favourite and these are not listed in order of likely prospects.

The rules of the leadership content will be announced next week. 

Rishi Sunak

Prior to becoming an MP in 2015, Mr Sunak was a banker and hedge fund manager. (Daniel Leal/Pool via AP, File)

Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced his leadership bid on Friday with a campaign video in which he promised to confront the difficult economic backdrop with "honesty, seriousness and determination", rather than piling the burden on future generations.

"Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions," he said.

Mr Sunak was made chancellor of the exchequer (finance minister) in early 2020, and was praised for a COVID-19 economic rescue package, including a costly jobs retention programme that averted mass unemployment.

But he later faced criticism for not giving enough cost-of-living support to households.

Revelations this year about his wealthy wife's non-domiciled tax status and a fine he received for breaking COVID lockdown rules have damaged his standing.

His tax-and-spend budget last year put Britain on course for its biggest tax burden since the 1950s, undermining his claims to favour lower taxes.

Mr Sunak voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Kemi Badenoch 

British Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch announced on Saturday she is launching a bid to serve as UK's next prime minister, promising a "focus on the essentials".

"I'm putting myself forward in this leadership election because I want to tell the truth," she wrote in The Times newspaper.

She said that the people of the UK are "exhausted by platitudes and empty rhetoric".

"What's missing is an intellectual grasp of what is required to run the country in an era of increased polarisation, protectionism and populism amplified by social media," she wrote.

Ms Badenoch voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Suella Braverman

British Attorney General Suella Braverman has indicated she will run for leader of the Conservative Party. (Reuters: Phil Noble)

As Attorney-General, Ms Braverman was heavily criticised by lawyers after the government sought to break international law over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland.

She campaigned to leave the EU and served as a junior minister in the Brexit department under Theresa May, but resigned in protest at the then prime minister's proposed Brexit deal, saying it did not go far enough in breaking ties with the bloc.

Conservative Party MP Steve Baker endorsed Ms Braverman to replace Boris Johnson.

"With immovable loyalty, I am backing Suella for Conservative leader and prime minister," Mr Baker wrote in the The Telegraph on Friday.

Sajid Javid

Sajid Javid resigned from Boris Johnson's cabinet.  (Reuters: Hannah McKay)

Mr Javid was the first cabinet minister to resign in protest over accusations that Mr Johnson misled the public over what he knew about sexual harassment allegations against a Conservative politician.

A former banker and a champion of free markets, Mr Javid has served in a number of cabinet roles, most recently as health minister.

He resigned as Mr Johnson's finance minister in 2020.

The son of Pakistani Muslim immigrant parents, he is a Thatcher admirer and finished fourth in the 2019 leadership contest to replace former prime minister Theresa May.

Mr Javid supported remaining in the EU "with a heavy heart and no enthusiasm", saying he feared the fallout from a leave vote would add to economic turbulence.

Tom Tugendhat

The chair of parliament's foreign affairs committee, and a former soldier who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, has also put his hat in the ring. 

Mr Tugendhat has been a regular critic of Mr Johnson and would offer his party a clean break with previous governments.

However, he is relatively untested because he has never served in cabinet.

He voted to remain in the EU.

Jeremy Hunt 

Jeremy Hunt finished second behind Boris Johnson in the last party leadership ballot. (AP: John Stillwell/PA)

The former foreign secretary finished second to Mr Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest.

He says he would offer a more serious and less controversial style of leadership after the turmoil of Johnson's premiership.

Over the last two years, Mr Hunt has used his experience as a former health secretary to chair parliament's Health Select Committee and has not been tarnished by having served in the current government.

Mr Hunt voted to oust Mr Johnson in a confidence vote last month that the Prime Minister narrowly won.

He supported remaining in the EU ahead of the 2016 vote.

It is unclear whether he would feel the need to maintain a tough line against Brussels to win the support of Conservative voters or whether he would have to pursue a more pragmatic relationship to improve post-Brexit trade.

Grant Shapps 

Grant Shapps says his main goal if elected will be to address the cost-of-living crisis in Britain.  (Reuters: Stefan Wermuth)

First elected to parliament in 2005, Grant Shapps has served as Secretary of State for Transport since Mr Johnson took office in 2019.

He previously held junior ministerial roles and was co-chair of the Conservative Party.

He has been a loyal defender of Mr Johnson, often sent out to appear in the media on behalf of the government.

Launching his candidacy in the Sunday Times newspaper, he said his goal was to address the cost-of-living crisis and he would hold an emergency budget in his first 100 days of office as part of a bit to cut taxes for the most vulnerable and give state support to firms with high levels of energy consumption.

Mr Shapps supported remaining in the EU ahead of the 2016 referendum.

Nadhim Zahawi

Nadhim Zahawi said last week that it would be a "privilege" to be prime minister at some stage. (Reuters: Henry Nicholls)

The newly appointed Finance Minister impressed as vaccines minister when Britain had one of the world's fastest rollouts of COVID shots.

Mr Zahawi's personal story as a former refugee from Iraq who came to Britain as a child sets him apart from other contenders.

He co-founded polling company YouGov before entering parliament in 2010. His last job was as education secretary.

He supported leaving the EU.

A look at Boris Johnson's rise and fall in politics

ABC/Reuters 

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