Theresa May’s resignation speech effectively fired the starting gun on the official Tory leadership race.
Here are the main runners and riders vying to take on the mantle of Conservative leader by winning over Tory MPs and grassroots members.
Declared:
– Boris Johnson
Former foreign secretary and London mayor Mr Johnson, 54, is considered by most as the favourite to win the leadership race (Ladbrokes 4/5).
Since then, Mr Johnson has burnished his Leave credentials by walking out of Cabinet alongside David Davis in July last year, and has also cleared the decks on a notoriously complicated personal life.
In a speech in Switzerland on Friday, he was deemed to have vowed to take Britain out of the EU on October 31 “deal or no deal” if he is made PM.
Backers include Johnny Mercer, Karl McCartney, and Nadine Dorries.
On last night’s @Peston show. I’m not good enough to be PM yet. I’ll be with @BorisJohnson, campaigning together, trying to unite the party and the Nation, and govern from the centre in a modern, compassionate, optimistic manner ??? pic.twitter.com/R2Ln179GG7
— Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerUK) May 23, 2019
– Jeremy Hunt
The Foreign Secretary, 52, campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum and would be a moderate candidate on Brexit in the leadership election (Ladbrokes 10/1).
On Friday, the MP for South West Surrey reportedly told the audience at the Haslemere Festival in his constituency that he intended to run to be prime minister.
He will formally launch his prime ministerial bid this weekend, telling the Sunday Times his business background will help resolve Brexit.
David Morris said he is supporting Mr Hunt.
ICYMI I was on @BBCBreakfast this morning at 7.14am outlining why I am supporting Jeremy Hunt to be the next Prime Minister.https://t.co/vTNsZbW9ud
— David Morris MP (@davidmorrisml) May 25, 2019
– Rory Stewart
New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart launched his leadership bid in an interview with The Spectator last month (Paddypower odds 20/1).
Mr Stewart once walked 6,000 miles from Turkey to Bangladesh, including a traverse of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The MP for Penrith and The Border, 46, was an environment minister in Mr Cameron’s government, served in the Black Watch and as a diplomat in the Foreign Office.
– Esther McVey
Former work and pensions secretary Ester McVey announced her leadership bid on Friday (Ladbrokes 50/1).
The former television presenter-turned MP for Tatton, 51, quit Mrs May’s Cabinet in November in protest at her Brexit plan and told listeners on Friday that the UK should be prepared to leave the EU without a deal.
Backers include Pauline Latham and Ben Bradley.
Mixed feelings over Theresa May’s announcement. She thought she was doing right for the country but could not get deal through and was let down by intransigent European negotiators. We need a leader who can unite our party and the country. I believe that is @EstherMcVey1
— Pauline Latham (@Pauline_Latham) May 24, 2019
– Matt Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock waited until Saturday morning to announce that he is in the running. (Betfred odds 50/1).
Known for being close to George Osborne and David Cameron, he has said the new leader should put the Tories “four square in the centre ground”.
Backers include Maggie Throup and Bim Afolami.
I’m now backing @MattHancock to be our next Prime Minister https://t.co/JnYhpgpj8E
— Maggie Throup MP (@maggie_erewash) May 25, 2019
– Dominic Raab
Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab formally entered the Tory leadership race over the weekend with a call for a “new direction”. (Coral 5/1).
He also posed for a classic kitchen photo with his wife in a recent profile in the Sunday Times, showing off the family life of this son of a Czech-born Jewish father.
Mr Raab was a prominent Brexiteer in the referendum campaign and Mrs May appointed him as her second Brexit secretary in July, but he quit the role in November, saying he could not support her eventual deal.
Helen Grant has announced her support.
.@DominicRaab has an inspiring vision for a fairer Britain and I think he is undoubtedly the best person to unite the Conservative Party and our Country. That is why I am proud to be supporting him to become our next Prime Minister. #ReadyforRaab pic.twitter.com/v7vFVWcGnZ
— Helen Grant MP (@HelenGrantMP) May 24, 2019
– Andrea Leadsom
Former leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, said she was “seriously considering” running for the Conservative leadership before she quit her role on Wednesday (Betfred 12/1).
She formally entered the race over the weekend, telling the Sunday Times that if elected PM, the UK would quit the EU in October with or without a deal.
The MP for South Northamptonshire, 56, stated: “To succeed in a negotiation you have to be prepared to walk away.”
She has previously described the UK’s continued membership of the EU as “disgusting” and claimed that a Eurosceptic prime minister would have delivered Brexit already.
Considering bids:
– Sir Graham Brady
Sir Graham Brady quit as the leader of the 1922 Committee – a position which gave him a significant role in the Prime Minister’s departure – on Friday in order to consider a leadership bid (Ladbrokes 20/1).
The MP for Altrincham and Sale West, 52, had chaired the Tory backbench committee for nearly 10 years, having held shadow cabinet positions under Mr Cameron while in opposition.
– Michael Gove
Michael Gove has been working to resuscitate trust among colleagues since he wielded the knife against Mr Johnson in the previous leadership contest, despite being his campaign manager (Ladbrokes 10/1).
Since then, he has made some memorable Commons appearances, notably in defence of Mrs May’s deal, and has a reputation for mastering complicated briefs.
Backers include Nick Gibb, Kevin Hollinrake, John Stevenson, Sir Edward Leigh, Bob Seely.
I‘m backing @michaelgove for the leadership of the Conservative Party. I have to support someone who has long-term, proven ministerial experience in getting things done, who voted Leave in the Referendum & who has a chance of uniting the Party & thereby delivering Brexit
— Sir Edward Leigh MP (@EdwardLeighMP) May 25, 2019
– Penny Mordaunt
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt became the UK’s first female defence secretary at the start of the month, following the sacking of Gavin Williamson (Bet365 20/1).
MP for Portsmouth North since 2010, she supported Mrs Leadsom in the 2016 Conservative leadership contest.
– Sajid Javid
Home Secretary Sajid Javid signalled his leadership ambitions by arguing that he wanted the Tories to be the party of social mobility, in an interview with the Spectator (Ladbrokes odds 20/1).
The son of a Pakistani bus driver from Rochdale, he was a managing director at Deutsche Bank before becoming an MP in 2010.
Robert Halfon has announced his support.
We need a Leader who is electable, can unify the country, and who embodies the Conservative spirit of the ladder of opportunity. That’s why I’m backing @sajidjavid for the job. pic.twitter.com/dOT2t7TvQ7
— Robert Halfon MP #WorkingHard4Harlow (@halfon4harlowMP) May 24, 2019
