Conservative lawmakers will vote on Wednesday to narrow the field of eight candidates hoping to succeed Boris Johnson as party leader.
Source: Eight hopefuls wanting to be next UK PM face first vote to narrow field – Bing images
London: Conservative lawmakers will vote on Wednesday narrowing the competition between eight candidates for the Prime Minister’s seat in Britain.
Initially, there were 11 candidates in the race of which three fell away on Tuesday after a lack of support from other members of the house.
Boris Johnson’s fall was sealed after the finance minister, Rishi Sunak resigned. He is considered the bookmaker’s favourite and is popular among the citizens of the UK. His successor Nadhim Zahawi and foreign minister Liz Truss are also among the remaining candidates.
The candidates still in the running will each have to secure 30 votes from the party’s 358 Members of Parliament (MPs) to get to the next round. Those with few supporters will have to tread carefully in order to stay in the race.
Challenges Ahead:
The next PM for the UK will have to look out for all the skeletons held in the closet by Boris’ scandalous decisions including breaking the protocols of COVID-19 lockdown, appointing a lawmaker with allegations of sexual misconduct etc. Though Boris Johnson has not come out in support of any candidate he stated, “I am … proud of the leadership I have given and I will be leaving soon with my head held high.”
The nation’s economy is struggling with exorbitant inflation, high debts and a low growth rate. BREXIT and the Russia-Ukraine Crisis have exacerbated troubles for the first world stalwart. Though the candidates seem to offer tax cutting-pledges, citizens of the nation are not well swayed due to the failure of the past government.
Sunak was quite critical and scathing when it came to tax offers as he blatantly called out on any such promises as fairy tales! Culture minister Nadine Dorries, a loyal of Johnson, is now backing Truss and accused Sunak’s team of dirty tricks/a stitch/dark arts.
Moreover, Jacob Rees-Mogg quotes, “I believe his (Sunak’s) behaviour towards Boris Johnson, his disloyalty means that I could not possibly support him.” He is the minister for Brexit opportunities. Johnson won the elections in 2019 with a vast majority announcing his resignation after many of the ministers resigned and various lawmakers of the Conservative Party revolted openly.
The next PM has his work cut out for him as he would first have to build in the trust and integrity facing criticism for the decisions of his predecessor. The opposition has time and again pointed out the short-sighted decisions of the government to make hateful decisions on tax cuts and exorbitant defence spending though there is no discussion on how these will be funded. Such a lackadaisical approach in the past has been the reason to drive the name of the government through the mud.
The Conservatives fear losing against their main opposition, Labour Party. Therefore, they are driving the election through with the approach of winning rather than deciding on a programme to work for the people.
Mordaunt while announcing her candidacy claimed, “I am your best shot of winning the election. I am the candidate that Labour fears.” She is the second favourite of the bookmakers, after Sunak.
The winners of Wednesday will meet again for a second vote on Thursday after which the final two will meet on 21st July. The new leader will be announced on 5th September. Moreover, there will be a confidence vote on Monday within the Conservative Party on Monday.
