After the resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss, the race to find her successor begins. Within the Conservative Party, a dispute over the candidacy of former Prime Minister and Truss predecessor Boris Johnson is emerging.
The favorites initially were former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Penny Mordaunt, as well as Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who resigned from the right-wing conservative camp on Wednesday. Official applications were eagerly awaited.
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg became the first cabinet member to support Johnson’s return to the post of prime minister. “I’m backing Boris” (“I support Boris”), the Brexit hardliner, who is considered eccentric, tweeted on Friday. He also provided his tweet with the hashtag
Is Johnson getting enough faction support?
According to reports, ex-Prime Minister Johnson, who only left office at the beginning of September due to numerous scandals, is said to be interested in running for office again. His successor, Truss, announced her resignation on Thursday after just six weeks in office. However, it was initially unclear whether Johnson would receive enough support in the group. In addition, an investigation is currently underway in Parliament to clarify whether Johnson lied in connection with the Partygate affair about prohibited lockdown celebrations at 10 Downing Street, the seat of government.
Former culture minister Nadine Dorries, a friend of Johnson, described the former prime minister as a winner. Sky News quoted a cabinet member as saying Johnson was able to get the votes needed to run.
But there are also determined opponents of a Johnson return. The 58-year-old is not the type to restore the party’s image, Tory MP Crispin Blunt told Sky News on Friday. MP Roger Gale announced he would resign from the party if Johnson moved back to Downing Street.
The leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has called for Truss not to receive the £115,000 a year allowance that is usual for former prime ministers. “Working 45 days shouldn’t give you a pension that’s a multiple of what ordinary people out there get after a lifetime of work,” Davey told LBC radio.
