Newly-appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps have become the latest leading Tories to announce they are running to replace Boris Johnson. They join Rishi Sunak, Attorney General Suella Braverman, ex-minister Kemi Badenoch and senior Tory Tom Tugendhat in announcing their candidacies.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that after 'careful consideration' and discussion with colleagues and family, he would not stand to be party leader and the next prime minister. Further announcements are anticipated over the coming days.
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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is widely expected to stand, while other potential front-runners include trade minister Penny Mordaunt and former health secretaries Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt. Launching his campaign, Mr Zahawi pledged to lower taxes for individuals, families and business, boost defence spending, and continue with education reforms that he started in his previous role.
Born in Iraq to a Kurdish family, the new Chancellor came to the UK as a nine-year-old when his parents fled the regime of Saddam Hussein. Believed to be one of the richest politicians in the House of Commons, he helped found polling company YouGov after studying chemical engineering at University College London.
Mr Zahawi said: "My aim is a simple one: to provide the opportunities that were afforded to my generation, to all Britons, whoever you are and wherever you come from. To steady the ship and to stabilise the economy. Thanks to Brexit, we are now a free nation. Let’s not just talk about the opportunities that follow, let’s take them.
"If a young boy, who came here aged 11 without a word of English, can serve at the highest levels of Her Majesty’s Government and run to be the next prime minister, anything is possible.” He added that he wants to “focus on letting children be children, protecting them from damaging and inappropriate nonsense being forced on them by radical activists”.
Mr Shapps launched his leadership bid by telling the Sunday Times he would produce an emergency budget, cut personal tax for the most vulnerable and give state support to firms with high levels of energy consumption.
He added: "I have not spent the last few turbulent years plotting or briefing against the prime minister. I have not been mobilising a leadership campaign behind his back.
"I tell you this: for all his flaws – and who is not flawed? – I like Boris Johnson. I have never, for a moment, doubted his love of this country. It is easy to criticise Boris after keeping one’s head down for years while being happy to benefit from his patronage. I am glad that I did not do that.
"Even as the skies darkened over his premiership, often because of errors committed by him, I hoped he could pull it back. Because in losing him, we would lose a man who makes a unique connection with people."
It was reported on Saturday that Boris Johnson intends to stand down as Prime Minister on Monday in order to run again for Tory leader. But this suggestion was knocked down by a spokesperson for Mr Johnson as completely untrue.
Tory MP Mark Francois has said he believes at least 12 people will put their names forward. He told GB News: "I haven’t yet decided who I am going to vote for. It looks like this is going to be the Grand National but without the fences, so we are probably heading for at least a dozen candidates at the moment."
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