Tory leadership race: nine potential candidates for prime minister

Tory leadership race: nine potential candidates for prime minister

Theresa May will fire the starting gun on a Tory leadership race when she announces her departure as Prime Minister.

Several potential candidates have already set out their stalls in previous weeks as Mrs May’s tenure hung by a thread.

Here are nine of the MPs who have suggested, or stated, they will stand for the job.

– Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock has hinted he is interested in the job
Matt Hancock has hinted he is interested in the job (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

A leader should put the Tories “four-square in the centre ground”, Mr Hancock believes.

– Esther McVey

Former cabinet minister Esther McVey is among the most pro-Brexit of the potential candidates
Former cabinet minister Esther McVey is among the most pro-Brexit of the potential candidates (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Ms McVey, 51, who quit the Cabinet over Brexit in November, has said it is “essential” Britain leaves the EU by the end of October.

– Sajid Javid

Sajid Javid
Sajid Javid has gained support among some colleagues through his work as Home Secretary (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But the 49-year-old is expected to be a popular candidate, with policies including his hard stance on the return of Shamima Begum, the former Bethnal Green schoolgirl who joined Islamic State, boosting his position among some colleagues.

– Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson
Probably the most recognisable of the bunch, Boris Johnson is the frontrunner (Gareth Harmer/National Lottery Community Fund/PA)

He has already confirmed he will stand, telling a business event “of course I’m going to go for it”.

– Amber Rudd

Amber Rudd
The Work and Pensions Secretary is one of the most staunch Remainers expected to enter the race (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Ms Rudd is one of the most senior Remain-supporting Tories, and has regained standing in the Government since resigning in April 2018 over the Windrush scandal.

– Rory Stewart

Rory Stewart
Secretary of State for International Development Rory Stewart is one of the lesser-known potential candidates (Isabel Infantes/PA)

“If you want someone who really enjoys doing stuff and loves government and is really proud of the country and feel that’s their thing, I’m really enthusiastic,” he said.

– Andrea Leadsom

Andrea Leadsom
Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom has described the UK’s continued membership of the EU as ‘disgusting’ (Isabel Infantes/PA)

The Leader of the Commons described the UK’s continued membership of the EU as “disgusting” and claimed that a Eurosceptic prime minister would have delivered Brexit already.

– Jeremy Hunt

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has made subtle hints at a leadership bid
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has made subtle hints at a leadership bid (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

– Liz Truss

Ms Truss, 43, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is among a few Tory MPs to have used social media to hint at a possible leadership bid.

She has said the Conservative party needs to “reinvent” itself.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –