Contenders to replace British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were racing Tuesday to clear their first hurdle: amassing enough support from colleagues to make the Conservative Party leadership ballot.
Nominations officially opened Tuesday morning and will close at 6 p.m. . Candidates need support from at least 20 Conservative lawmakers to be on the ballot for run-off votes, which will start Wednesday.
The candidates are jostling to replace Johnson, who quit as Conservative leader last week amid a party revolt triggered by months of ethics scandals. He will remain in office as a caretaker prime minister until his replacement as party chief is chosen. The winner of that contest will automatically become prime minister, without the need for a national election.
The party aims to complete the parliamentary stage of the election before lawmakers break for the summer on July 21. The two final candidates will then spend the summer campaigning around the country.Many Conservatives are wary of leaving Johnson in office for too long, concerned a lame-duck leader is the last thing Britain needs with war raging in Ukraine, food and energy price increases driving inflation to levels not seen in decades, and growing labor unrest.
Many have repudiated the tax increases Sunak introduced to shore up U.K. finances battered by the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit -- a 1.25% income-tax rise for millions of workers, and an increase in corporation tax next year from 19% to 25%. Most candidates say they will scrap one or both.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Five simple ways leaders can support women and gender myths to overcomeFive relatively simple and practical ways leaders can support women on their teams
Read more »
B.C. firefighters and support staff in Yukon to help battle wildfiresThe territory says 166 wildfires are currently burning in Yukon
Read more »
B.C. firefighters and support staff in Yukon to help battle wildfires – Terrace StandardB.C. firefighters and support staff in Yukon to help battle wildfires
Read more »
B.C. firefighters in Yukon to help battle wildfiresFirefighters and support staff from British Columbia have been deployed to Yukon to help battle two wildfires that are impacting travel on a major route.
Read more »
Ukrainian soldiers train in U.K. as war with Russia rages onThe first cohort of Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom have no previous military experience, have arrived in the U.K. for combat training as the eastern European nation races to replace troops killed and wounded in the war against Russia.
Read more »
Candidates jostle to replace U.K. PM Johnson in packed raceLONDON — The contest to replace British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered pace on Sunday as five more candidates declared their intention to run, with many…
Read more »