Rishi Sunak has declared he’s standing to be Conservative chief and prime minister, as allies of Boris Johnson mentioned he was nonetheless planning to run.
The previous chancellor introduced his candidacy on Twitter, after coming second within the earlier contest towards Liz Truss.
Sunak tweeted: “The UK is a superb nation however we face a profound financial disaster. That’s why I’m standing to be chief of the Conservative celebration and your subsequent prime minister. I need to repair our economic system, unite our celebration and ship for our nation.”
Johnson is but to declare however his shut colleague, Jacob Rees-Mogg, mentioned the previous prime minister was “clearly going to face”.
The enterprise secretary and the previous chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, each insisted Johnson had the numbers behind him to succeed in the required threshold of 100 MPs, regardless of scepticism amongst his critics that he actually does have that stage of backing.
Sunak, the MP for Richmond, stays the clear frontrunner. He misplaced to his rival, Truss, lower than seven weeks in the past however her shock departure on Thursday triggered one other race for the premiership.
In an announcement, Sunak mentioned his precedence was fixing the economic system, describing the disaster dealing with the UK as “profound”.
“I served as your chancellor, serving to to steer our economic system by way of the hardest of instances. The challenges we face now are even better. However the alternatives, if we make the correct alternative,” he mentioned.
In a reference to the scandals that introduced down Johnson, Sunak added: “There will likely be integrity, professionalism and accountability at each stage of the federal government I lead and I’ll work day in and time out to get the job finished.
“I’m asking you for the chance to assist repair our issues. To guide our celebration and nation forwards in direction of the subsequent basic election, assured in our file, agency in our convictions and able to lead once more”.
Sunak spent Saturday night time in talks with Johnson however these ended apparently with no deal.
Johnson gained the backing on Sunday of Nadhim Zahawi, the seventh cupboard minister to affix his facet, however his publicly declared listing of supporters remains to be a minimum of 40 MPs in need of the edge. Many MPs are involved concerning the upcoming privileges committee inquiry into whether or not Johnson misled the Commons over the Partygate scandal.
The previous prime minister was additionally dealt a blow as Steve Baker, a former Truss supporter, minister and influential determine within the European Analysis Group faction, gave his backing to Sunak and described a comeback by Johnson as a “nailed-on catastrophe”.
Baker instructed Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I feel it could be for the perfect if Boris did one thing massive and statesmanlike. I imply, if he desires to return again as prime minister, he would want to do it after this privileges concern is settled. I feel he’d make an incredible chairman of the celebration …
“However what we are able to’t do is have him as prime minister in circumstances the place he’s sure to implode, taking down the entire authorities with him. We simply can’t do this once more.”
His view was echoed by Robert Jenrick, a former cupboard minister. Talking to Instances Radio, Jenrick mentioned: “I can not in good religion suggest to my parliamentary colleagues and to members of the celebration that we go from having the shortest prime minister in political historical past to the primary to be expelled from the Home of Commons.”
The third candidate is Penny Mordaunt, the chief of the Commons, whose supporter Damian Inexperienced warned towards a “stitch-up” by massive figures in Westminster with no vote going to Tory celebration members.
Talking on Sky Information, Inexperienced mentioned of Johnson: “We noticed what occurred final time and the way the federal government actually fell aside. We all know there’s this investigation occurring and so long as that’s occurring if [Johnson] turned chief there’s the chance that we may all be right here once more.”
Mordaunt instructed the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday that she believed she may deliver the celebration collectively however wouldn’t define any financial plans apart from protecting the present chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. She denied she had been in contact with Johnson’s camp providing her assist in return for a job – and mentioned she was not considering backing one other candidate.