The election for the leader of the UK Conservative Party – and who will therefore become British Prime Minister – must be completed quickly. “We will find out next Friday,” said Peter de Waard, de Volkskrant’s former UK correspondent. But a new prime minister may be announced on Monday. Chairman Graham Brady of the 1922 Committee, which handles leadership elections, said so after Liz Truss’ departure.

Competitor

According to Brady, each candidate must have the backing of at least 100 Conservative MPs to stand in the leadership election starting Monday. “That means there’s room for three competitors at most,” said De Waard. Apart from Rishi Sunak, there are other people who are also in the running, according to the former correspondent. Boris Johnson returned from vacation today. Everyone talks about the mother of all comeback. There’s been a lot of speculation.’

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De Waard continued: ‘Not everyone dropped Johnson at the time. Last night a number of people at the event screamed Time to ask from the BBC that they wanted him back. When it comes to voting between members, Johnson has a great chance, but it will plunge the party into great chaos. There are still criminal charges pending because of Johnson’s infamous ‘party gate’. Then you get the prime minister who has to appear in court soon.’

division

According to De Waard, Sunak will also cause divisions. “This is not an alternative that will immediately win the country’s trust and mandate.” Is there an alternative? Not really, according to De Waard. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said he would not because his wife and children did not want him. It is difficult to find a suitable candidate who can count on a lot of support. Or you have to get Winston Churchill or Margaret Thatcher back, but sadly they are dead.’

return

There is definitely a chance Johnson will return, says FD correspondent Joost Dobber. Johnson is on more front pages today than Liz Truss. That’s all speculation for now.’

He continued: ‘There is room for three candidates. The three names most frequently mentioned are Sunak, Johnson and Penny Mordaunt. But it is not said that all three will reach a hundred.’

According to Dobber, about 30 percent of MPs now say who they support. Boris Johnson leads. He already has 50 messages of support against 39 for Sunak and 20 for Mordaunt.’

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