Candidates after Truss resignation: Are Johnson and Sunak colluding?

Candidature after Truss’s resignation
Is there a nexus between Johnson and Sunak?

10/23/2022, 4:30 am

In their search for a successor to Britain’s outgoing Prime Minister Truss, the Tories must consider not only Britain’s but their own welfare as well. Johnson and Sunak, potential prime ministerial contenders, meet to talk.

According to media reports, the two most promising candidates in the race for the successor of outgoing British Prime Minister Liz Truss have met for talks. Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson met on Saturday evening. Nothing was initially known about the content of their conversation. However, British media quickly speculated that the two may have agreed a deal to avoid a split in the Tory party.

The conservative Sunday Telegraph, for example, suggested that the favorite fad could offer Johnson a role in a future cabinet. According to British media, Sunak is the first potential candidate to rally the required number of supporters among the Conservative MPs behind him. To be in the race for the top job, applicants need the support of at least 100 lawmakers. Nominations can be received by Monday afternoon.

Truss resigned as the youngest prime minister on Thursday after his economic policies proved untenable and lost two key cabinet mates. The party has announced an accelerated process so that by next Friday it is clear who will be the head of the British government in the future. Johnson had only returned to London with his family on Saturday from a short vacation in the Caribbean and is said to be in the starting block for candidacy, according to aides.

In the afternoon, a source close to Johnson said he needed 100 supporters. However, until that time, very little was known about him publicly. So far, neither Sunak nor Johnson have officially announced their candidacy. Third in the race is Parliamentary Affairs Minister Penny Mordaunt, who made her candidacy official on Friday. According to British media calculations, Mordont lags far behind Sunak and Johnson in terms of public support.