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Second Tory leadership race in three months underway with speculation over whether Boris Johnson will run for his old job | Politics News


A second Tory leadership race in just three months is underway following the unusual resignation of Liz Truss.

PM is now gone forced to quit just 44 days after a quake a few weeks in Westminster saw her tax-cut small budget crumble and burn.

Ms Truss’ resignation, which signaled the end of the shortest term of any prime minister in modern British history, was followed by a series of humiliating overthrows, the loss of two senior Cabinet ministers. her most and a public revolt by Tory MPs.

All eyes are now on who can replace her – with many speculating that Boris Johnson could launch a spectacular comeback on the front line, just six weeks after he was formally removed from office. highest service.

Party charter for new leadership contest means PM hopes to needs the backing of at least 100 Tory MPs Monday afternoon to take on any other successful challengers in a vote on membership.

This will exclude some candidates from running for office and means that the maximum number of people who can stand for election is three.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful backbench committee in 1922, said: “We have set a high threshold but one that any serious candidate with the potential to achieve.”

British Prime Minister Liz Truss announces her resignation, outside Number 10 Downing Street, London, UK October 20, 2022. REUTERS / Toby Melville
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Liz Truss announces her resignation

Who is the runner and the runner?

Tory MPs are scrambling to find a replacement who can unite the party and turn the party’s fortunes around after a flurry of polls predicted would wipe out the disastrous election.

Number 10’s new residents face a tough set of challenges – from cost of living crisis and Energy bills increase handle Northern Ireland deliveryand the war in Ukraine.

Although Jeremy Hunt, the big hit, has excluded himself from the race, there were other Tory MPs who seemed to be waiting in the wings.

Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates former prime minister and Tory leadership finalist says Rishi Sunak signaled that he was “very, very hard at work”.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has also “made it clear in her public appearances that she is ready for the job”.

And Suella Braverman – who resign as home secretary on Wednesday— was very critical of Ms Truss when she resigned, in a move that allies believe shows she also wants to step up to the plate.

“The question now is who will stand aside and who will survive a week-long intense leadership contest,” Coates said.

How the Tory Party Changed Leadership
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How the Tory Party Changed Leadership

Nominations open on Thursday and will close at 2pm on Monday – with a new leader to be chosen on Friday, October 28.

The final two candidates will attend an event held with news broadcasters, before voting online for members to choose who they want to lead the party.

However, we may have a new leader sooner than that.

One potential option is for MPs to rally around a single candidate, meaning the contest will close on Monday if only one person can get enough nominations.

‘Bring Boris back’

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Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries backs Johnson

On Thursday night, momentum seems to be swinging behind Boris Johnson between reports, he would throw his hat into the ring.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, a staunch ally of Johnson, told Sky News she was confident he would hit the 100 MP threshold.

Ms Dorries said: “There is only one MP entrusted by the British public, who won the general election three years ago by a majority of 80 seats, and that is Boris Johnson.

“He’s a known winner and that’s definitely someone I’m naming against because I want us to win the general election. Having a winner in place is what the party needs. to survive.”

While many Tory MPs have expressed support for Johnson’s return, any attempt to return to front-line politics is divisive.

Senior supporter Sir Roger Gale MP tweeted to remind everyone that the former prime minister, who resigned in a quagmire, is still being investigated by the Privilege Commission for potentially misleading House through partygate.

If found guilty, Mr Johnson could face recall proceedings that will see him fight for his seat in the Commons if he is suspended for 10 days or more.

Sir Roger told Times Radio that, if Mr Johnson was elected again as Prime Minister, he would step down from the Conservative whip and stand for independence.

Read more:
Resignation, reversal and rebellion – 44 days as prime minister by Liz Truss
Shared Tories will not find it easy to choose a new PM

Can Boris Johnson hit 100 nominations?

There are now 357 Conservative MPs, 148 of whom voted against Mr Johnson in a confidence vote just months ago.

If they refuse to support him again, that will leave 209 MPs to choose from.

Liz Truss had 113 nominations this summer, so they’re all nominations.

Brenden Clark-Smith, Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, is among the group calling for “bringing Boris back”.

However, problems with Johnson’s candidacy include his popularity with public demise – even if he’s still riding high as a Tory member.

Opinion polls for the Conservatives fell during Mr Johnson’s tenure as prime minister as it was beset by scandals, including the former PM’s breach of his own ban.

Mr Johnson is finally forced to announce his resignation on 7 July when Cabinet allies opposed him with a series of resignations.

The last point is questions about his judgment of Chris Pincher, The Tory whip was at the center of accusations of drunken groping. That stemmed from Mr Johnson’s attempt to change the rules to prevent the suspension of then-Conservative MP Owen Paterson after he breached lobbying rules.

Ms. Truss formally took over from Mr Johnson on September 6, with members backing her plan to cut taxes for growth over Mr. Sunak’s more conservative fiscal policies.

But just two weeks into the job, her pathetic small budget has caused turmoil in financial markets, leading to the sacking of prime minister Kwasi Kwarteng and a humiliating abandonment of the economic policies that have brought she came to power.

Many MPs have voiced support for Mr. Sunak, who warned Ms. Truss that her economic policies were “immoral” and campaigned for financial responsibility during the recent leadership race.

Jonathan Djanogly and Mark Garnier both tweeted their support for him on Thursday night.

MP Richard Holden said that in “tough economic times, the party and country need a Prime Minister with the economic experience to bring real stability over the next few years and get the state ship back to normal. – and that person is Mr Sunak”.

‘Last chance saloon’

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Labor Leader Keir Starmer spoke to Beth Rigby about Liz Truss’ resignation,

A vicious leadership contest will further divide an already divided party, which is due for a third prime minister within the next few months – and many Tory MPs are calling on colleagues to unite behind the leader. the next religion, whoever it may be.

Justin Tomlinson said the leadership contest was the “last chance” for the party to maintain credibility, while former Cabinet Secretary Robert Jenrick, warned the Tories face “extinction…if we get it wrong” this”.

Opposition parties say that whoever is handed the keys to Downing Street, a general election must be called immediately.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Conservatives had “shown they no longer have the power to govern”, adding that the British people “deserve so much more than the revolving door of chaos”. “.

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