BRITAIN: British Conservative MP and former United Kingdom Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Sunday that he is running to replace outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss. This makes it his second bid in months to lead the UK as it grapples with multiple crises. The former finance minister already has the support of well over 100 MPs — a minimum requirement to bag the top job.
“I want to fix our economy, unite our Party and deliver for our country,” he said in a tweet, adding that the choice his party makes now “will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last”.
While Mr Johnson is yet to officially declare his candidacy, the contest is shaping up as a three-way fight between Mr Sunak, Mr Johnson and third-placed Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt.
While Rishi Sunak earlier lost to Liz Truss, her dramatic political implosion after just 44 days in office has provided an almost immediate opportunity for the Tory MP to make a renewed bid to become Britain’s first prime minister of colour.