Various factions of Tories vying to succeed Liz Truss, including those who want to re-elect Boris Johnson, look divided on who could genuinely do the job today.
After months of political, social, and sexual scandals, Mr. Johnson was eventually removed from office three months ago.
But now that Liz Truss has presided over an unprecedented era of economic and political turbulence, more Conservatives are beginning to question if he was indeed that terrible.
After finally apologizing for the calamitous mini-budget, she faces her Cabinet today as she battles to save her position.
In the wake of Jeremy Hunt’s spectacular dismantling of her key economic policies, the Prime Minister is in for another harsh day as MPs discuss whether and how to remove her.
Ms. Truss belatedly apologized for the incident in a BBC interview yesterday night, admitting that she had made’mistakes’ and acted ‘too quickly’ after failing to do so when she fired Kwasi Kwarteng on Friday. A premier who appeared apprehensive swore to lead the party into the next election.
Last night, she conveyed a similar message to the One Nation MPs. However, attending Tories compared it to a corpse delivering its own eulogy.
It is difficult to identify an alternative unity candidate outside Rishi Sunak, who is loathed by the party’s right – although he is regaining favor in the middle of the current crisis.
While party members voted for her over Mr. Sunak, the ex-chancellor blamed for Mr. Johnson’s downfall, just six weeks ago, they now appear to be experiencing buyer’s remorse.
Today’s member survey by JL Partners indicates that Mr. Sunak would now win a rematch of the Conservative leadership contest. However, he reportedly rejected Penny Mordaunt’s proposal to return as chancellor under her leadership.
Other contenders appear to have ruled themselves out, at least temporarily. Ben Wallace, the esteemed Defense Secretary, stated that he wished to continue in his position to oversee the UK’s assistance to Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
And Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor who is generally seen as the de facto prime minister, ruled himself out once more, adding, “I rule it out, Mrs. Hunt rules it out, and three Hunt children rule it out.”
In light of the upheaval in Westminster, we examine potential candidates and riders.
After months of political, social, and sexual scandals, Mr. Johnson was eventually removed from office three months ago. But now that Liz Truss has presided over an unprecedented era of economic and political turbulence, some Conservatives are beginning to question if he was indeed that terrible.
While party members opted for Liz Truss over Mr. Sunak, the ex-chancellor blamed for Mr. Johnson’s downfall, just six weeks ago, they now appear to be suffering from buyer’s remorse.
Today’s member survey by JL Partners indicates that Mr. Sunak would now win a rematch of the Conservative leadership contest. However, he reportedly rejected Penny Mordaunt’s proposal to return as chancellor under her leadership. And Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor who is generally seen as the de facto prime minister, ruled himself out once more, adding, “I rule it out, Mrs. Hunt rules it out, and three Hunt children rule it out.”
Other contenders appear to have ruled themselves out, at least temporarily. Ben Wallace, the esteemed Defense Secretary, stated that he wished to continue in his position to oversee the UK’s assistance to Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
BORIS JOHNSON 22/1
Three months after his resignation in humiliation, might Boris Johnson make an improbable return?
After Partygate, Wallpapergate, and a slew of other scandals, including the dismissal of chief whip Chris Pincher, he was eventually removed from power following a large cabinet rebellion in July.
Polls indicate that a majority of voters believe he did the right thing by resigning, despite the fact that he still has followers in the parliamentary party and wider conservative ranks.
One MPO told MailOnline that he may be the best solution to the party’s problems.
The former minister stated, “If you can find a unity candidate, you are a better guy than I am.” “There is none.” It is a peculiar type of strength.
The membership did not want Boris to leave… They would appreciate it. He is the only individual with a personality that can attract anyone.’
They added: ‘He is like Heineken. It is within the realm of possibilities.
Nadine Dorries, a steadfast ally of the former prime minister and supporter of Liz Truss, made a new appeal to Conservative MPs with doubts to support the current leader. But the former Culture Secretary stated that only Mr. Johnson has the mandate of both the Conservative party and the British people.
Today, though, defence minister James Heappey disparaged the former prime minister. The Minister for the Armed Forces stated on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there was no other unity candidate and supported Ms. Truss, stating that at least she had apologized faster than former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Last night, Tory plotters were warned that they must reinstall Boris Johnson to No. 10 or risk a snap election “within weeks.”
Nadine Dorries, a steadfast ally of the former prime minister and supporter of Liz Truss, made a new appeal to Conservative MPs with doubts to support the current leader.
In recent weeks, she has demanded that Miss Truss organize a new election if she is adamant about continuing her predecessor’s policies.
Yesterday, though, the former culture secretary stated that only Mr. Johnson had the mandate of both the Conservative party and the British people.
6/4 RISHI SUNAK
The former 42-year-old Chancellor finished second in the Tory leadership election this summer.
He and Ms. Truss faced off as the last duo in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as No. 10.
During a lengthy series of hustings rallies around the United Kingdom, they engaged in acrimonious debates about respective economic agendas.
Now that Ms. Truss has abandoned practically all of her leadership vows regarding tax cuts – and is adopting a significant portion of the strategy taken by Mr. Sunak when he was Chancellor – some lawmakers may wonder why they don’t just put him in charge.
After Mr. Sunak’s warning this summer of market turbulence if Ms. Truss followed through with her unfunded tax cuts, a lot of his fans are likely to take a “told you so” stance about the government’s current woes.
In the early phases of the Tory leadership election, Mr. Sunak received the support of 137 MPs, 24 more than Ms. Truss, and continues to enjoy significant support inside the parliamentary party.
In addition to having supervised the government’s economic response to the Covid crisis, he has expertise with political leadership during turbulent periods.
MPs may be hesitant to appoint a leader who was rejected by Tory members just over a month ago.
There is still lingering bitterness at Mr. Sunak over his July departure as Chancellor, which many of Mr. Johnson’s supporters continue to blame for the former prime minister’s ouster from No10.
A new poll reveals, however, that the party’s base may be more accommodating than previously believed.
After excluding undecided and non-voting members, 60 percent of Conservative members surveyed by JL Partners for the Daily Telegraph now support Mr. Sunak for party leader. In contrast to Truss, more than four-in-ten (43%) would back him unreservedly (28 per cent)
Jeremy Hunt has replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor, but he has ruled out a run for the premiership and urged MPs to give Elizabeth Truss a ‘opportunity’
JEREMY HUNT four out of five
On Friday, the 55-year-old was appointed as the new Chancellor after Ms. Truss fired her ally Kwasi Kwarteng.
Some Tory MPs now refer to him as the “de facto PM” after he tore up what was left of Ms. Truss’s mini-Budget plans and detailed an entirely new economic strategy.
During the current economic crisis, Mr. Hunt is being touted as a potential “unity” candidate behind whom the conflicting wings of the Conservative Party may unite.
After leading the NHS between 2012 and 2018, he is the longest-serving Health Secretary in British political history and a seasoned Cabinet minister.
Mr. Hunt has served as Foreign Secretary and Culture Secretary in the past and is regarded as a safe choice.
There have been rumors that he could enter Number 10 as a “caretaker” prime minister to stabilize the situation until a new leader is elected.
But Mr. Hunt is distancing himself from leadership speculation and has ruled out a run for the top job, urging MPs to give Ms. Truss “a chance.”
He told Sky News, “I rule it out, Mrs. Hunt rules it out, and three Hunt children rule it out.”
During the Tory leadership election this summer, Mr. Hunt was eliminated in the first round of voting by MPs after garnering the backing of only 18 colleagues.
This previous demonstration of scant support for Mr. Hunt among Conservative MPs – who went on to support Mr. Sunak against Ms. Truss – would count against him if he changed his mind.
Previously, he finished second to Mr. Johnson in the 2019 Tory leadership race, in which he was overwhelmingly rejected by Tory members.
Following his loss from this summer’s race, Mr. Hunt appeared to concede that he would never become Tory leader.
At the time, he stated, “It’s become clear to me that you only get one shot at this, and I had mine in 2019.”
Penny Mordaunt finished third in this summer’s Tory leadership contest, behind Ms. Truss and Mr. Sunak, with the support of 105 MPs.
PENNY MORDAUNT 13/2
The Leader of the House of Commons, at 49, nearly reached the final round of the Tory leadership contest this summer.
She finished third behind Ms. Truss and Mr. Sunak after securing the support of 105 members of parliament.
Since then, the Royal Navy reservist has been recruited back into the Cabinet, where she previously served as Defense Secretary during Theresa May’s administration.
However, Ms. Mordaunt’s ministerial record was questioned during this summer’s leadership election.
Rival factions criticized Ms. Mordaunt’s work ethic harshly after she was accused of abandoning her ministerial duties.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Ms. Mordaunt’s former supervisor, said that Ms. Mordaunt had “not been available” at various points during her tenure as trade minister, leaving others to “pick up the pieces.”
It was reported that Ms. Mordaunt had spent her time preparing for her leadership candidacy.
During the Tory leadership election, she also had to vigorously defend her views on trans matters, including her previous assertion that “trans women are women.”
Ms. Mordaunt slammed those who attempted to portray her as “woke.”
The notion of Ms. Mordaunt and Mr. Sunak running as a combined ticket to succeed Ms. Truss has been suggested at Westminster.
However, plotters are reportedly unsure as to which of the two would serve as prime minister if they were to form a “government of all abilities”
It was claimed last night that Ms. Mordaunt’s associates attempted to recruit Mr. Sunak as her chancellor, but were unsuccessful.
Ben Wallace, Defense Secretary, has frequently topped Conservative grassroots polls.
BEN WALLACE 10/1
After commanding Britain’s military response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 52-year-old is well-liked by Conservative party members.
In the event that Ms. Truss resigns, he is also referred to as a ‘unity’ candidate who can bring the party back together.
The former Army commander has often topped Conservatives grassroots polls.
However, after ‘careful thought,’ he decided not to participate this summer’s leadership campaign and subsequently supported Ms. Truss.
At the Conservative Party convention in Birmingham this month, Mr. Wallace confessed he was “conflicted” about a future leadership bid.
He stated at a fringe event, “At this point in life, the answer is no.” I mean do I rule it out? No. I do not rule out the possibility, but will I still be here in a few years? I have no idea either.
Mr. Wallace may be well-liked among Tory members, but he is less well-known among the general public because he has only been a Cabinet minister since 2019.
As he has never held one of the “major offices of state” as Mrs. May, Mr. Johnson, and Ms. Truss did before entering No. 10, Tory legislators may believe he lacks experience.
Mr. Wallace has also been mentioned as a potential successor to NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.
Last night, he reaffirmed his ambition to remain at defence, stating to the Times, ‘I want to remain Secretary of State for Defence until I retire. I enjoy my work and we have more to accomplish. I want to be the Prime Minister, and I want to be the Prime Minister.
He said, “I say to the colleagues who believe our mission is to foster instability inside the party by suggesting other people as leaders regardless of who they are, that you are doing a disservice.”
Currently, the markets in the United Kingdom are reacting to uncertainty around the government. The only way to instill confidence in these markets is for people to cease playing political parlor games.
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