The country is facing a “profound economic crisis,” tweeted the 42-year-old. “I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country.”
Sunak is considered the favorite in the premier race, which is open to a maximum of three applicants. Ex-Secretary of Defense Penny Mordaunt is also running, but she can only rally a few MPs behind her. Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also likely to be a candidate, but he has not yet announced his application.
According to the Guardian, Sunak could count on the support of more than 130 Conservative MPs who publicly spoke out for him on Sunday. He easily cleared the necessary hurdle of 100 nominations, which every candidate needs when it comes to the first vote today.
Around 60 Tory MPs had wanted to speak out publicly for Johnson by Sunday afternoon. But Economy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of his staunchest supporters, said Johnson had enough support within the group and had more than 100 nominations: “I’ve spoken to him and obviously he’s going to run, there’s a lot of support for him.”
Johnson cut short his holiday in the Dominican Republic on Saturday and flew to London to lead the campaign to succeed his successor. If he manages to make it among the last two applicants today, the decision will be made in a runoff vote in which the base decides.
Johnson popular with the base
The 180,000 Tory members can then vote online until Friday. Although Johnson is less popular than Sunak within the governing group, he still has excellent prospects among members: polls show that a clear majority want him back at 10 Downing Street.
In this case, however, a similar situation would be reached as in the summer, when Truss had far less support from the MPs, but was lifted into office from the grassroots. The governing faction splintered into several hostile factions, and orderly government became virtually impossible.
Source: Nachrichten
