The runners and riders are lining up
Rishi Sunak is the early favourite to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, and the next Prime Minister, following Liz Truss' resignation as leader of the country after just 44 days.
Truss confirmed on Thursday lunchtime that she would step down as leader of the Tory party, making her the shortest serving prime minister in British history.
But she also confirmed that a leadership election would be held within a week.
https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1583076192873168896
And, according to bookmakers, Rishi Sunak leads the way as the clear favourite at 8/13 with Sky Bet.
Penny Mordaunt follows behind at 2/1 to be the next Tory leader, with Ben Wallace 9/1 and Kemi Badenoch further back at 16/1 Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is 18/1 to make a sensational comeback at No.10.
Sunak was of course the person that Truss beat in the final round of the Tory leadership election earlier this year.
Despite what the bookies say though, it is not a done deal that the former chancellor will take over at Number 10. Currently, the Tory party are unable to unite behind one leadership candidate, with many in government believing that Sunak has been tainted by his time in government with Boris Johnson.
Ben Wallace has recently distanced himself from a bid for the leadership as well, telling the
Times: “I want to be the secretary of state for defence until I finish. I love the job I do and we have more to do. I want the prime minister to be the prime minister and I want to do this job.”
A
recent poll of Tory members found that a majority (63%) think former PM Boris Johnson would be a good replacement, with 32% putting him as their top candidate.
