Deputy Commerce Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has already topped several betting sites ‘lists of who is expected to succeed Boris Johnson’s successor, has launched his campaign to become the Tories’ next party leader – including Britain’s next prime minister.
“Leadership must change”, it says in large letters on Mordaunt’s new campaign website where she announces her candidacy.
Mordaunt was Secretary of Defense from May 1, 2019 to July 24 of that year, when Johnson reshuffled the government after taking office as Prime Minister. She has also held several other senior positions in the conservative governments of recent years.
Several other candidates have applied to take over Boris Johnson’s job. One of them is former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak.
Nadhim Zahawi, who replaced Rishi Sunak as finance minister earlier this week, has also expressed interest in becoming party leader and prime minister. Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt and former Health Minister Sajid Javid, who resigned shortly before Sunak did so, have also announced their candidacy, as has Foreign Minister Liz Truss.