The race to replace Boris Johnson has shot off to a flying start. One of the leading favourites to step forward to become the new Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party is the current Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
The MP for Wyre and Preston North has served as Defence Secretary since July 2019, replacing Ms Mordaunt. On Wednesday he called the mass resignations in protest of Mr Johnson’s leadership “political parlour games”, adding: “To be clear, I am going to see brave Ukrainian men and women training to fight for their lives and their country.”
A new snap YouGov polling shows at first glance that the field appears to be diverse, with a handful of names thrown in the ring. Ben Wallace tops this list, at 13% he is neck and neck with Penny Mordaunt (12%). Rishi Sunak takes 10% and Liz Truss scores 8%. Jeremy Hunt, who came second in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest, places joint eighth on 5%, alongside new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi.
