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Runners and riders for next Tory PM

Well, that’s that. The disastrous premiership of Liz Truss will come to an end next week after 52 days in office, the shortest tenure in British political history. Who can replace her? Someone with a strong stomach, a glutton for punishment and a taste for sipping from a poisoned chalice. Below Mr S runs his eye over the likely candidates and a few no hopers…

Rishi Sunak – The obvious favourite but there’s still a sizeable anti-Sunak caucus in the party. The detractors may call him ‘fishy Rishi’ but his supporters crow that he got the big calls right.

Boris Johnson – Can at least claim some kind of mandate, having won the 2019 election. As Churchill’s biographer, Johnson will be all too keen to encourage talk of a comeback. But what about that Privileges investigation?

Penny Mordaunt – Missed out on the final two last time by a handful of votes. Since then she became the face of the accession of King Charles as Leader of the House. Sunak-backers are pushing a pact with Penny but surely she craves the premiership herself?

Ben Wallace – One of the few fixtures of British politics is Ben Wallace leading the ConservativeHome cabinet rankings table. But will the personal reasons which kept him out last time prevent him from running again?

Kemi Badenoch – The dark horse of the last race, she won fans in the grassroots and the media with her tough-talking no-nonsense approach. Yet with just two months’ cabinet experience, might she back Sunak in exchange for a better post in his top team?

Suella Braverman – A staunch Brexiteer and the toast of the ERG, she clashed with Truss over migration commitments.

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Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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