Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party while warning against “demonizing” the “extraordinary” Boris Johnson.
In addition, he attacked the tax-cut pledges of his rivals, describing them as “not credible” unless inflation is brought under control.
There are ten contenders for Tory leader and prime minister. They require the support of twenty MPs by 18:00 BST.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has disqualified herself from the competition.
Despite “encouragement and support” from colleagues and Tory supporters, she stated she would not run.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps dropped his candidacy earlier.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Mr. Sunak, Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, and backbench MP Tom Tugendhat all passed the threshold to be on the vote among the remaining contenders.
The Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, and the Attorney General, Suella Braverman, informed the BBC that they had the support to pass.
On Wednesday, Conservative MPs will begin eliminating contenders through a series of votes, with the last two candidates being voted on by approximately 160,000 party members in the summer.
Mr. Tugendhat and former Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch both officially started their candidacy for leadership with media appearances that allowed them to display their support on a busy morning.
Mr. Shapps withdrew from the contest and committed his support to Mr. Sunak. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab also supported Mr. Sunak.
Michael Gove, who was dismissed from the cabinet by Mr. Johnson last week, is among those backing Ms. Badenoch.
Damian Green, a former senior minister, is one of the legislators who support Mr. Tugendhat.
At the kickoff of his campaign in the heart of London, Mr. Sunak, who resigned from the government last week in protest of Mr. Johnson’s leadership, stated: “Boris Johnson is one of the most extraordinary individuals I have ever encountered.
And, regardless of what some observers may assert, he has a decent heart.
He added: “Is he flawed? Yes. And so are we all else.”
Mr. Sunak stated that he had quit because Mr. Johnson’s leadership was “no longer effective,” but that he would “play no part in a rewriting of history that seeks to demonize Boris, exaggerate his mistakes, or deny his contributions.”
To date, the election has centered on the issue of tax cuts, with the majority of contenders claiming they would implement them immediately if they were elected.
However, Mr. Sunak cautioned that it was not credible to guarantee fast increases in expenditure and tax cuts.
This may be politically inconvenient for me, but it is also the truth, he said “As is the reality that I will reduce taxes once inflation is under control. The question is not whether, but when.”
The contenders for party leadership (together with their declared support totals) are:
Former minister of equality Kemi Badenoch (16), Attorney General Suella Braverman (12), and Foreign Office minister Rehman Chishti (14) are pictured (0)
Ex-Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt (13)
Former Secretary of Health Sajid Javid (11)
Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt (25), Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak (45), Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (21), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat (20), and Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi (20) are pictured (14)
The result will be announced on September 5th.
Agenda for the Conservative leadership
Tuesday, July 12th, the deadline for nominations to appear on the ballot is 18:00 BST.
Wednesday, July 13 – the first round of voting by Conservative MPs
Thursday, July 14 is the probable date for the second round of voting.
Monday, July 18 is the expected date for the third round of voting, if necessary.
Thursday, July 21, is the deadline for selecting the last two candidates.
Monday, September 5 – the winner is announced.
Ms. Badenoch stated at her campaign kickoff that she would not engage in a “bidding war” over tax cuts, stating, “The dividing line in this election is not tax cuts; it’s judgment.”
“The moment has come to tell the truth,” she urged her followers. “For too long, politicians have asserted that it is possible to have it all – to have your cake and eat it too. However, I am here to inform you that is not the case.”
If elected prime minister, Mr. Tugendhat pledged to reduce fuel charges by 10p and reverse the recent increase in National Insurance contributions.
“I am here to argue that our economy can only thrive if we believe that the people, not Westminster, know best how to spend their money,” he stated.
Mr. Tugendhat, addressing his lack of ministerial experience, stated: “The reality is that the position of prime minister is unique among government positions.
“It’s not a management position; it’s not a departmental job. This position requires vision and leadership.”
Mr. Johnson, whose premiership crumbled after ministers criticized and resigned over his handling of the Partygate scandal and other scandals, will not endorse any of the contenders.
He stated on Monday, “I wouldn’t want my support to hurt anyone’s chances.”
Opposition parties and several Conservative lawmakers have demanded that Mr. Johnson resign immediately, and indications indicate that Labour intends to introduce a vote of no confidence in the administration.
It might take place as early as Wednesday, and if Labour is victorious, it could trigger a general election.
However, it is unlikely that sufficient Conservatives would support the motion for this to occur.
