BORIS Johnson is the runaway front runner to become the next Tory leader - and Prime Minister - in what will undoubtedly be a bitter contest to succeed David Cameron.
The leading Eurosceptic MP is the darling of the party's rank and file, as well as the bookmakers' odds-on favourite, in the race triggered by Cameron's resignation in the wake of Friday’s Brexit result.
The Conservative backbench 1922 Committee will meet tomorrow to determine the timetable for the internal contest, which will see MPs whittle down candidates to two to put to the membership.
Tory sources believe that, given the referendum result, only a pro-Brexit MP will be palatable to party members and the country. The winner will automatically become Prime Minster as leader of the governing party.
Johnson, a two-term Mayor of London, is believed to have a political appeal beyond core Tory supporters. However, Alan Duncan, a pro-EU Tory MP, has questioned Johnson’s fitness to be leader:
"Do not necessarily assume that he is the darling of the Conservative Party activists. A lot of them have loved the notoriety and the excitement. But actually, once you scratch the surface a little bit and ask the second question, a lot of them don't want a permanent ride on the big dipper."
The most credible ‘stop Boris’ candidate appears to be Home Secretary Theresa May, who campaigned for EU membership without alienating Brexit supporters. A majority of the Conservative group at Westminster backed Remain and her pro-EU credentials should ensure that she also makes the run-off.
Brexiters Michael Gove and former Defence Secretary Liam Fox may also be potential contenders, although Gove has previously said he will not run. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd are also in the frame..
In a televised debate during the referendum Rudd famously aimed a dig at Johnson: “Boris, well, he’s the life and soul of the party, but he’s not the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening.”
George Osborne, who is the Prime Minister’s closest colleague, is not expected to be a candidate.
The Chancellor was last year considered to be potential replacement for Cameron, but his political stock has plummeted lately. He was criticised for trying to cut disability benefits and tax credits for the working poor and slated for his apocalyptic warnings during the referendum. He is also expected to leave the Treasury in a cabinet reshuffle.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon denied the government is a rudderless ship after Cameron's resignation statement. Speaking at an Armed Forces Day event in Cleethorpes, he said: "The Prime Minister goes on, the government goes on until the Autumn, until there's a new leader and a new government. We'll remain at our posts and we have a big agenda. We were elected only a year ago and we've set out fresh legislation which we're taking through parliament at the moment."
He also warned that Brexit would take time to achieve. "Leaving the European Union is not an easy or a quick business. It's not been done before. Obviously it's going to take time for the details to be worked out but that's a matter now for the next prime minister and the new government in October."
The impact of the referendum vote would have no effect on the UK's armed forces or security, he added: "I've spoken yesterday to all our key allies and to the Secretary General of Nato to reassure them that we will continue our work internationally."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel