| July 07, 2022 07:56 AM
B ritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned on Thursday morning. Johnson says he will remain as Prime Minister until a Conservative Party leadership election can be concluded over the next two months.
Johnson had faced rapidly increasing pressure to resign following new suggestions that he had misled the public. This week's controversy follows public furor over repeated parties held at the Prime Minister's No. 10 Downing Street office and residence during Britain's COVID lockdowns.
Johnson's early denials of those parties were deconstructed when photographs were later published showing his attendance at them. The new reports this week were the nail in the coffin. They moved Conservative Party Members of Parliament and many of Johnson's own ministers to believe that he no longer retained the nation's confidence. Conservative MPs have also been alarmed by increasingly negative opinion polls suggesting that the Party would suffer a major defeat were a new election called.
Still, because of the Conservative Party's parliamentary majority, its next leader will automatically become Prime Minister without needing to call a general election. Who might that leader be?
Most likely, one the following eight options.
Liz Truss
The Foreign Secretary (equivalent to the U.S. Secretary of State), Truss has earned praise for her management of Britain's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She has also taken a resolute stand against Russian finance in London, helping to pare back more than a decade of related Conservative Party cronyism. Close to Johnson but with an independent political identity, Truss might offer the Conservatives a means to unify their anti and pro Johnson blocs.
Penny Mordaunt
A pro-Brexit voice liked by Conservative members, Mordaunt had a three month tenure as defense secretary in 2019. She currently serves as Trade Minister.
Ben Wallace
The defense secretary, Wallace is a former Army officer. Like Truss, Wallace has earned praise for his supervision of the delivery of British weapons to Ukraine. Less of a public facing politician than some of the other candidates, Wallace has respect across the Conservative Party but evokes little excitement from any particular bloc. He would be another unity candidate. Party members might also see Wallace as a way to signal a clear transition from the chaotic personality driven Johnson era. Interestingly, Wallace's support for providing Ukraine with more advanced weapons would likely make for some uncomfortable conversations with the more risk averse Biden White House.
Rishi Sunak
Sunak resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer (Britain's more powerful equivalent of the Treasury Minister) this week in protest at Johnson's leadership. Viewed as a hard worker and rising star in a Party not known for its youth, Sunak might be a strong candidate to lead the Party into the next election (which must be held by the end of January 2025). Still, Sunak has faced recent criticism over his family's tax avoidance.
Sajid Javid
Another former Chancellor, Javid has long sought the top job.
Nadhim Zahawi
A refugee from Iraq who moved to Britain as a child, Zahawi replaced Sunak as Chancellor this week. He is a composed public speaker to the right of the party who would allow the Conservatives to advance their favored mantra of aspiration.
Tom Tugendhat
Tugendhat has long and publicly opposed Johnson, portraying him as a dishonest and unreliable leader. A former Army officer known for his passionate speeches on matters including the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the need to support Ukraine, Tugendhat would give the Conservatives a means of earning support from independent voters. But would Johnson loyalists support him?
Suella Braverman
A relatively junior parliamentarian, Braverman announced her candidacy on Wednesday evening. While liked by some other younger Conservative MPs, Braverman is unlikely to find much support from the party at large.
Regardless, a leadership contest is underway. While he has been forced out of office in ignominy, Johnson's securing of Brexit will earn him an assured place in the history books.