So far, eleven candidates have shown interest in becoming the new leader of the Tory Party and thus the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. That there are so many candidates is not unusual, says James Savage.
– Not all candidates may think they have a chance to win. But this is a way to raise his profile in the party and also increase his chances of then being able to get a high-ranking ministerial post, he says.
“Can be an unexpected candidate”
The candidates who are just shining brightest are, among others, the former Minister of Finance Rishi Sunak, who was one of the first to resign in protest against Boris Johnson. Foreign Minister Liz Truss and Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt have also become big talkers.
– The three have a good chance. But it could be someone completely different who sails up, says Savage.
The schedule will be decided tonight
The timetable for the process will be decided on Monday evening. It is the 1922 committee, which consists of conservative members of parliament, who will jointly decide on how the timetable should be set up. The goal is to have two candidates ready as early as July, and then let the remaining members of the party have a vote on who they want to take over as leader.
– There are about 200,000 people who vote. After that, a result will be published on the fifth of September, says Savage.
So how does the process work? See the answer in the clip above.