A long list of Tory MPs are campaigning to replace Boris Johnson as the next Tory leader and Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson announced he would be standing down as leader of the Conservative Party last Thursday after dozens of MPs quit government or party posts
In an unapologetic resignation statement, Mr Johnson said he had fought to stay on because of a sense of “duty” to the “millions of people who voted for us” in 2019 when he won a landslide election victory.
“I have tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we are delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate and when we are actually only a handful of points behind in the polls,” he said.
But “I regret not to have been successful in those arguments and of course it is painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself”.
A leadership contest is now underway in the Consverative Party to decide who will replace Mr Johnson.
Here are the candidates who have put themselves forward.
Rishi Sunak
Age: 42.
Experience: Two years as Chancellor of the Exchequer until he resigned on July 5 in protest at Boris Johnson’s leadership.
Key message: The former chancellor is standing as the candidate prepared to tell hard truths about the state of public finances instead of “comforting fairy tales” – something that may not put him in favour with the Tory MPs and activists wanting tax cuts.
Campaign name: Ready for Rishi.
Penny Mordaunt
Age: 49.
Experience: Current Trade Minister, former defence secretary and international development secretary.
Key message: She launched her campaign with a video highlighting the need for “solemnity and wisdom” in contrast to Johnson’s time in office. A Royal Navy Reservist for more than a decade, Mordaunt said leadership “needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship.” She also pledged to cut VAT on fuel by 50%.
Campaign name: PM 4 PM.
Liz Truss
Age: 46.
Experience: Current foreign secretary.
Key message: Launched her candidacy with a Daily Telegraph article vowing to “lead, deliver and make the tough decisions.” She has pledged to “start cutting taxes from day one” and reverse the recent National Insurance rise while promising to keep “corporation tax competitive.”
Campaign name: Liz for Leader.
Sajid Javid
Age: 52.
Experience: Was health secretary until he resigned on July 5. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Key message: Pledged to remove the rise in National Insurance and cut corporation tax from 19% to 15%, 10 percentage points lower than the planned rate of 25% which is due to come into effect next April.
Campaign name: Team Saj.
Grant Shapps
Age: 53.
Experience: Current transport secretary.
Key message: Has promised to reduce income tax by 1p and cancel the planned increase in corporation tax. He highlighted his track record as a campaigner and organiser to tell Tory MPs how he can help them win their seats.
Campaign name: Back Shapps.
Nadhim Zahawi
Age: 55.
Experience: Current Chancellor of the Exchequer, former education secretary.
Key message: Has said “nothing is off the table” when it comes to taxes, pointing out concerns about the plan to increase corporation tax to 25% and also suggesting he may bring forward the 1p cut in income tax.
Campaign name: None.
Tom Tugendhat
Age: 49.
Experience: Chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, backbench MP since 2015.
Key message: Also promised to remove the National Insurance increase and reduce fuel tax. A former Army Intelligence Corps officer, he has promised his lack of ministerial experience would provide a “clean start.”
Campaign name: Tom – A Clean Start.
Suella Braverman
Age: 42.
Experience: Current Attorney General.
Key message: She has pledged “rapid and large tax cuts” and would withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights. She would suspend targets aimed at reaching net zero carbon emissions to help deal with the energy crisis.
Campaign name: Suella 4 Leader.
Jeremy Hunt
Age: 55.
Experience: Former foreign secretary, health secretary and culture secretary.
Key message: Promised to cut corporation tax to 15% and remove business rates in the poorest areas for five years. He would keep the National Insurance increase and only reduce income tax if it was sustainable in a growing economy.
Campaign name: Win Back Trust.
Kemi Badenoch
Age: 42.
Experience: Former minister in the Levelling Up department and former equalities minister until she resigned on July 6.
Key message: She would reduce taxes and offer a “limited government” that focuses on essential matters. She is apparently targeting the anti-woke vote by criticising “the shutting down of debate” and promoting the need to “reinvigorate the case for free speech.”
Campaign name: None.
Rehman Chishti
Age: 43.
Experience: Was Tory vice-chair in 2018 and has been a junior foreign minister since July 8.
Key message: He vowed to lead a Government of “lower taxes, small state, big society”. His vision is “about aspirational conservatism, it’s about fresh ideas and then it comes down to having a fresh team”.
Campaign name: None.
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