Tory leadership race: Who are the leading candidates to replace Prime Minister Theresa May?
Theresa May's resignation today kicks off a Tory leadership race that could see more than a dozen candidates throw their hats into the ring.
The leadership battle had already begun, with leading candidates raising cash, putting together support teams and giving the Sunday papers softball interviews in their kitchens.
Some leadership contenders have publicly stated they will join the race, while others are more speculatively linked to the job.
Morning Wire rounds up the list of leading candidates to take on the possibly poisoned prime ministerial chalice, with no end to the ongoing Brexit stalemate in sight.
Read more: 'WTO Brexit very possible': City reacts to May’s resignation
Boris Johnson
Boris “BoJo” Johnson confirmed at an insurance conference in Manchester that he would have a tilt at Number 10 when May stepped down. “Of course I’m going to go for it,” he told the audience of brokers earlier this month. Johnson is the bookies favourite for the role and if he gets through the first round of voting will be popular among the Tory grassroots who admire his hawkish Brexit stance and his star power. According to a snap Yougov poll today, more of the public think he would make a good Prime Minister than any other candidate, with just over a quarter saying he would be a good bet for the top job and 11 per cent saying he would do a very good job.
Paddy Power has him at 5/6 to become the next Tory leader.
Read more: Brexiter Tories stuff their war chests ahead of leadership battle
Michael Gove
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The erstwhile journalist and key Brexit backer looked to have fumbled his chance of power when he betrayed Boris Johnson following the 2016 election, torpedoing both of their prime ministerial chances and leaving the door open for Theresa May. However, since the referendum he has bided his time, remained loyal to his leader and positioned himself for another run at power.
He is 11/1 to succeed May.
Read more: Theresa May’s legacy? Contortions of logic and tin-eared obstinacy
Jeremy Hunt
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Foreign secretary Hunt told the Haslemere Festival in his constituency of South West Surrey today that he would be standing in the race to succeed May. It was "only right that my party constituency should be the first to know" local paper the Farnham Herald reported him as saying. Although a remainer in 2016, Hunt has since supported May in her attempts to deliver Brexit and said he would now vote leave in any second referendum.
The bookies have him at 11/1.
Andrea Leadsom
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Leadsom was May’s main rival for the Tory leadership in 2016 and then this week triggered her downfall with her resignation on Thursday night. The former leader of the House of Commons is popular on the Brexit wing of the party for her uncompromising stance on leaving the EU.
She is 20/1 to be the UK’s next Prime Minister.
Dominic Raab
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Former City lawyer Raab quit as Brexit secretary in protest at May’s deal and has since set himself up as one of the more hawkish senior Brexiters. Raab, a karate blackbelt, did not cover himself in glory as Brexit secretary with one gaffe about the amount of trade that goes through Dover particularly memorable. He has already started campaigning for the top job with the slogan “Ready for Raab” and has raised nearly £120,000 to fund his bid.
Raab is 6/1 to succeed May.
Read more: Theresa May's resignation: Political allies and rivals react
Sajid Javid
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Home secretary Sajid “The Saj” Javid has clearly been on leadership manoeuvres for a while, with comments on migrants, returning Isis members and Asian grooming gangs seemingly made with one eye on the Tory grassroots. The former banker supported remain in the referendum, but is a lifelong eurosceptic who has since moved to back Brexit.
Javid is 22/1 with the bookies.
Penny Mordaunt
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The Portsmouth MP benefited from Gavin Williamson’s recent ousting over the Huawei leaks scandal, succeeding him as Defence minister. She supported leave in the Brexit campaign and was appointed secretary of state for International Development in 2017.
Paddy Power has her at 22/1.
Read more: Theresa May to resign as Conservative party leader on 7 June
David Lidington
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The minister for the cabinet office is a key May ally who has frequently been described as the UK’s de facto deputy prime minister. In March his name briefly trended on twitter after reports emerged he could succeed May as a caretaker prime minister to deliver Brexit. Remain voter Lidington is a former minister for Europe who may find it difficult persuading the eurosceptic wing of the party that he is sound on Brexit.
The bookies have him at 66/1.
Esther Mcvey
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Former TV presenter Mcvey has confirmed she will stand in the upcoming leadership race. She resigned as Works and Pensions secretary in November over her opposition to May’s Brexit deal.
She is a longshot at 66/1.
Sir Graham Brady
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Brady has come to prominence in recent months, thanks to his stewardship of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee. Somewhat bizarrely, he resigned his role today to take a tilt at the top. From overseeing the leadership election he is now going to be taking an active role.
He is currently at 20/1.
Steve Baker
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Brexit hard man Steve Baker has seen his profile rise in the last few years, thanks to his leading position in pro-Brexit party caucus the European Research Group. He told the BBC he was seriously considering running. “There is no point shying away from it, people have been asking me to stand. I have had a degree of support from across the country that I could never have foreseen,” he told the BBC.
Baker is at 33/1.
Best of the rest
Matthew Hancock 50/1
James Cleverly 50/1
Geoffrey Cox 66/1
Priti Patel 66/1
Amber Rudd 80/1
Liz Truss 125/1