Sunak to stand for leadership of UK Tory party

Rishi Sunak, who quit as UK chancellor three days ago, said he will run for Conservative party leader in the race to replace Boris Johnson.

“I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative party and your prime minister,” he tweeted on Friday. “Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.”

In a video clip within the tweet, Sunak said: “Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions”, adding that he wants to “lead this country in the right direction.”

Johnson said in a televised statement on Thursday that he would stand down as Conservative leader. He plans to stay on as a caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed, probably in early September.

Some Conservative MPs have called for Johnson to leave immediately, claiming his authority has been irrevocably tarnished by scandal.

However most Tory MPs have accepted Johnson will remain in place until his successor as party leader is chosen and are looking to his newly appointed cabinet to keep him on a tight leash.

Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott was among the first to endorse Sunak’s bid to be leader of the party. Mark Harper, who stood in the 2019 leadership race that Johnson won, also said he is backing Sunak.

I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.

Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country. #Ready4Rishi

Sign up ???? https://t.co/KKucZTV7N1 pic.twitter.com/LldqjLRSgF

— Ready For Rishi (@RishiSunak) July 8, 2022