In the race to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the British Conservative Party and Prime Minister, MP Kemi Badenoch was eliminated on Tuesday as the last place finisher. The MP and former Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities, who has hardly appeared before, had positioned herself on the right-hand edge of the Tory party. Now there are still three candidates in the running. Ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak received the most votes on Tuesday.
The remaining applicants are to face a final round of voting in the parliamentary group on Wednesday. The result is expected at 5:00 p.m. (CEST). The last-placed player is eliminated. The 200,000 party members will decide in a postal vote over the summer which of the two remaining candidates will succeed Johnson. The process is expected to be completed on September 5th.
Ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, who, according to Reuters, received the most support on Tuesday with 118 votes, is considered almost set for the final round. Secretary of State Liz Truss (86 votes) and Secretary of Commerce Penny Mordaunt (92 votes) compete for second place. It should be decisive who can get the most MPs behind him who last voted for Badenoch. She received 59 votes on Tuesday.
Johnson’s successor as leader of the party automatically leads the government, as the Tories are the largest party in the House of Commons. Johnson had not been able to bring himself to resign even after several misdemeanors. Only after the departure of numerous employees in protest against Johnson’s actions did he announce his departure. However, he intends to remain in office until the successor has been decided.
Source: Nachrichten
