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
A leader should put the Tories “four-square in the centre ground”, Mr Hancock believes.
– Esther McVey
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
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
He has already confirmed he will stand, telling a business event “of course I’m going to go for it”.
– Amber Rudd
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
“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
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
– 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.