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BoJo Takes Early Lead in Tory Leadership Race But Sunak Closing Gap
BoJo Takes Early Lead in Tory Leadership Race But Sunak Closing Gap
Sputnik International
Boris Johnson was forced to resign in July after his chancellor Rishi Sunak led a mass wave of ministerial resignations following a series of scandals. But he... 21.10.2022, Sputnik International
2022-10-21T09:54+0000
2022-10-21T09:54+0000
2023-05-28T15:24+0000
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Boris Johnson has taken an early lead in the race to become the next British prime minister — but his nemesis Rishi Sunak is closing the gap.Despite not yet declaring whether he wants his old job back, the former leader who stood down just six weeks ago had reportedly won the backing of 52 fellow Tory MPs by early on Friday morning.That was over half the 100-nomination threshold set by backbench 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to make it onto the final ballot — less than 24 hours after Johnson's successor Liz Truss announced her resignation.But Sunak, whose resignation as chancellor of the exchequer began the mass walk-out from Johnson's government that led to his resignation in early July, was rapidly catching up on his old boss with 50 nominations.By Friday afternoon, however, Sunak had slipped ahead with almost 80 public and private backers, while 62 had come out for Johnson.Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt was a distant third with 21 backers.Sunak and Mordaunt supporters told the Telegraph that they were frantically phoning colleagues in a bid to keep Johnson from reaching the magic hundred nominations that would get him onto the ballot of grass-roots party members.Crucially, Johnson reportedly has the backing of 10 Conservative whips, to members of the 1922 Committee, two vice-chairs at Conservative Central HQ and one member of the party board, all of whom had to remain anonymous.The only serving minister to openly support BoJo so far is Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of his most loyal allies in government.A poll showed that Johnson was still more popular with voters than any of his Tory leadership rivals, while still trailing opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.The hashtag #BringBackBoris was surging on social media within hours of Truss' resignation.Veteran North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, an opponent of Britain's exit from the European Union which Johnson saw through, threatened to resign the Conservative whip if Johnson returned to 10 Downing Street — but that only encouraged Twitter Tories to back Boris."Have to admit, reading that Sir Roger Gale has said that he would resign the whip if Boris becomes Prime Minister again only gives Boris a boost," one tweeted.The high threshold set by Brady may be intended to leave only one horse in the race, which Truss said would be concluded "in the next week" in her resignation speech on Thursday afternoon.It has apparently discouraged many of the 11 hopefuls in the summer leadership race from standing again. The previous election took tow months to declare Truss the winner — longer than she lasted in Downing Street.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20221020/uk-prime-minister-liz-truss-announces-resignation-1102460470.html
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BoJo Takes Early Lead in Tory Leadership Race But Sunak Closing Gap
09:54 GMT 21.10.2022 (Updated: 15:24 GMT 28.05.2023) Boris Johnson was forced to resign in July after his chancellor Rishi Sunak led a mass wave of ministerial resignations following a series of scandals. But he remains more popular with the Conservative Party membership and even voters than his rivals.
Boris Johnson has taken an early lead in the race to become the next British prime minister — but his nemesis Rishi Sunak is closing the gap.
Despite not yet declaring whether he wants his old job back, the former leader who stood down just six weeks ago had
reportedly won the backing of 52 fellow Tory MPs by early on Friday morning.
That was over half the 100-nomination threshold set by backbench 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to make it onto the final ballot — less than 24 hours after Johnson's successor Liz Truss announced her resignation.
But Sunak, whose resignation as chancellor of the exchequer began the mass walk-out from Johnson's government that led to his resignation in early July, was rapidly catching up on his old boss with 50 nominations.
By Friday afternoon, however, Sunak had slipped ahead with almost 80 public and private backers, while 62 had come out for Johnson.
Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt was a distant third with 21 backers.
Sunak and Mordaunt supporters told the
Telegraph that they were frantically phoning colleagues in a bid to keep Johnson from reaching the magic hundred nominations that would get him onto the ballot of grass-roots party members.
"If he gets to the members we have a problem," said one MP. "The whole intent over the weekend is to keep Boris out of the final two. Some of those who have come out for Boris are the usual headbangers — but many are sensible. If the numbers creep up, we'll be having more aggressive conversations with people, telling them not to be so stupid."
Crucially, Johnson reportedly has the backing of 10 Conservative whips, to members of the 1922 Committee, two vice-chairs at Conservative Central HQ and one member of the party board, all of whom had to remain anonymous.
The only serving minister to openly support BoJo so far is Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of his most loyal allies in government.
A poll showed that Johnson was still more popular with voters than any of his Tory leadership rivals, while still trailing opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
The hashtag #BringBackBoris was surging on social media within hours of Truss' resignation.
Veteran North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, an opponent of Britain's exit from the European Union which Johnson saw through, threatened to resign the Conservative whip if Johnson returned to 10 Downing Street — but that only encouraged Twitter Tories to back Boris.
"Have to admit, reading that Sir Roger Gale has said that he would resign the whip if Boris becomes Prime Minister again only gives Boris a boost," one
tweeted.
20 October 2022, 12:34 GMT
The high threshold set by Brady may be intended to leave only one horse in the race, which Truss said would be concluded "in the next week" in her resignation speech on Thursday afternoon.
It has apparently discouraged many of the 11 hopefuls in the summer leadership race from standing again. The previous election took tow months to declare Truss the winner — longer than she lasted in Downing Street.
