The final race to replace Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and as prime minister UK Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
The decision by the finalists took place this Wednesday (20) when the party’s MPs went to the fifth round of voting. Sunak got 137 votes and Truss got 113 votes. With this, International Trade Minister Penny Mordant dropped out of the race to get the fewest votes with 105 votes. (See how elections work at the end of this report)
Rishi Sunak maintained his lead during the first phase of the election process, but a poll published by YouGov and news website Sky News shows that he will lose in the second phase, when all party members vote.
The final was voted on before it was defined and it was reported that he would lose to Liz Truss as well as Penny Mordaunt or Cami Badenoch, who were the last to leave the dispute.
Sunak and Truss have introduced policy proposals to try to boost their campaigns, trying to deflect attention from promises of tax cuts, at a time when Britain’s weak economy has put people on the verge of taking the biggest hit on their finances for decades. Squeeze left.
Both have made a point of cementing their right-wing credentials in seeking support from party members who, according to a 2020 poll, are older, male, southern English and pro-Brexit.
Now, in the final phase, about 200,000 members will vote by mail. The final result is scheduled for 5 September and the new leader of the party will automatically become prime minister.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss during the campaign for UK Prime Minister (Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville)
Sunak, 42, rose to prominence in 2020 after becoming head of the Treasury, handing over billions of pounds to help businesses and workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
But they have faced criticism for not doing enough to ease the growing crisis of living. His popularity also plummeted after he was fined by police for attending one of the parties during the pandemic lockdown in Downing Street.
Truss, 46, took over the high-profile cabinet post in September after serving as trade minister. She is also the UK’s top negotiator with the EU on post-Brexit issues.
Truss, popular among many conservatives, said he wanted to cut taxes “from day one” and reverse the income tax hike.
How does the Prime Minister’s election work?
The leader of the Conservative Party, which has a majority in the British Parliament, also holds the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Several rounds of voting are held between conservative deputies. In each of them, those with fewer votes are removed from the dispute. When only two candidates remain, all members of the party, which number about 200,000, can participate in the selection and the votes are sent by post.
The dates are set by a group called the 1922 Committee. According to committee chairman Graham Brady, the timeline for establishing the replacement looked like this after the resignation of Boris Johnson:
- 12 July: The nomination of the candidates was done on this day officially. He must have the support of at least 20 other deputies to participate in the dispute.
- 13 to 21 July: Early elections. Conservative Party MPs vote for their candidates. At least the votes are exhausted until only two contestants remain.
- 21 July: The British Parliament goes on holiday.
- July to September: Voting by post is on between the last two candidates. At this stage, all party members can vote.
- September 5: The winner of the contest is announced, who will become the new leader of the Conservative Party and the new British Prime Minister.
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Understand the scandals that led to the downfall of Boris Johnson
