Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak Lead Race to Become Britain’s Next Prime Minister

On Friday, candidates canvassing support to become the leader of the Conservative Party in a hurried election included Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, his former finance minister, as the front-runners.

Following Truss' resignation on Thursday, which brought an end to her six weeks in office, those vying to succeed her were scrambling to secure the 100 votes from Conservative lawmakers required to run in a contest that the party is hoping will turn around its sagging fortunes.

According to polls, the Conservatives are almost certain to lose the upcoming general election, so the race is on to become the fifth British prime minister in six years.

Either Monday or Friday of next week will see the announcement of the winner.

Johnson, who was ousted by lawmakers less than three months prior, was competing with Sunak for the position of next prime minister in what would be an extraordinary comeback.

"I believe he has the track record to make things right. He has the ability to reverse it. And I'm confident that my colleagues get the message "Johnson was described by conservative lawmaker Paul Bristow on LBC radio.

He declared, "Boris Johnson can win the next general election."

Johnson, whose three-year term was marred by scandals and allegations of misconduct, may have difficulty garnering the required 100 votes after comparing himself to a Roman dictator who was twice brought into power to avert crises.

Having alienated dozens of Conservatives during his scandal-riddled tenure, one of Johnson's former advisers, who no longer consults with Johnson and asked to remain anonymous, claimed he was unlikely to succeed.

A Boris comeback, according to the Financial Times, which called for a new election, would be "farcical."

Former Johnson employee Will Walden reported that the former prime minister was gathering information upon his return from vacation.

"The nation requires a responsible, mature leader. Let's continue; Boris had his chance. The Tory party may well choose to re-elect him, so I have a suspicion they won't act in that way "To the BBC, he spoke.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a minister for business, declared on Twitter that he supported Boris and used the hashtag #Borisorbust.

Hours after Truss stood in front of her Downing Street office and declared she could no longer continue, the competition started on Thursday.

Bookmakers have Johnson as the favorite, followed by Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs analyst who was appointed finance minister just as the COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe and finished second to Truss in the previous leadership race this summer.

Former defense minister Penny Mordaunt, who is well-liked by party members, is currently in third place. None have formally announced their intentions to run.

TRUSS QUITS

After her economic program destroyed the nation's reputation for financial stability and made many people poorer, Truss resigned after the shortest, most chaotic tenure of any British prime minister.

After her economic plan shook up the markets and forced a U-turn under a new finance minister after she fired her closest political ally, Truss claimed she could no longer carry out her program.

The resignation speech of yet another unpopular prime minister on Thursday in Downing Street, as well as the beginning of a new leadership contest, highlight how tumultuous British politics have become since the 2016 Brexit vote.

Some Conservative lawmakers hope the election to succeed her will be quick and easy, and they advise the contenders to unite behind one person to lessen the pain of yet another bitter campaign.

Sunak, who was right to warn that Truss's fiscal plan threatened the economy, continues to enjoy a low level of support from some party members for his role in sparking the summer uprising against Johnson.

Mordaunt is regarded as a new set of eyes that are largely untarnished by previous administrations. She is, however, unproven and, as of yet, trailing Sunak and Johnson in securing supporters.

The next leader inherits an economy that is headed for recession, high inflation, rising interest rates, a labor shortage, and a squeeze on the standard of living.

Data released on Friday revealed that British consumers sharply reduced their spending and brought their confidence levels close to record lows, while worse-than-anticipated public borrowing data highlighted the economy's impending challenges.

The Conservative Party, which holds a sizable majority in parliament and is not required to call a general election for another two years, has a mountain to climb in order to try to renew or restore its reputation.

Political scientist John Curtice told LBC that it's "highly debatable" whether a change in leadership will be enough to give the Conservatives real electoral credibility.

The issue for the Conservatives is that their reputation as a party that can manage the economy has now been severely damaged, and it might be very challenging for them to recover in the next two years.