LONDON – The race to replace Theresa May as British prime minister in acontest due to end in July already has nine contenders.
Here is a look at the hopefuls:
– Boris Johnson –
A former mayor of London, “Boris” or “BoJo”, says he would get Britain outof the European Union “deal or no deal”.
A key figure in the 2016 Brexit campaign, he served as foreign ministerafterwards but resigned after falling out over the government’s Brexitstrategy.
Charismatic and popular with grassroots Conservatives, the 54-year-old hasmaintained his public profile by writing a weekly column in The DailyTelegraph.
– Jeremy Hunt –
The foreign minister supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016referendum but has switched since then.
A former businessman who speaks fluent Japanese, he is a resilientpolitician, having headed up the National Health Service for six yearsduring a funding crisis.
The 52-year-old has said he will push hard for a new deal with Brusselswithout taking the possibility of a no-deal outcome off the table.
– Dominic Raab –
An ardent eurosceptic with a black belt in karate, the 45-year-old formerBrexit minister resigned in protest at the Brexit deal struck with the EUby May.
He says Britain should be ready to walk away from the EU without anagreement while still trying to negotiate a better deal that the one Maysigned.
Britain must “calmly demonstrate unflinching resolve to leave when theextension to negotiations end in October — at the latest”, Raab wrote inthe Mail on Sunday.
– Michael Gove –
Brexit campaigner Gove initially supported Johnson’s leadership bid in2016. His last-minute decision to enter the race himself caused both men tolose out to May.
After a year in the political wilderness, he was appointed environmentminister in 2017 and has stayed in the headlines with a series ofeco-friendly policy announcements.
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The cerebral 51-year-old is among the most ardent eurosceptics left inMay’s government but is seen as a possible unifying figure between the twowings of the party.
– Andrea Leadsom –
Former leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom, who lost out to Mayin the 2016 contest to replace Cameron, stole a march on her rivals byquitting her cabinet position last Wednesday, hastening the primeminister’s demise and staking out her pro-Brexit credentials.
She got down to the final two in the 2016 race, but pulled out before thedecision was handed over to party members, with whom she was popular, aftercoming under fire for saying that being a mother would give her anadvantage as prime minister over childless May.
– Matt Hancock –
The 40-year-old health secretary is one the party’s rising stars, amoderate who is widely seen as competent at his job and skilful at handlingthe media.
He is one of several ministers who opposed Brexit during the 2016referendum before switching sides and defending the withdrawal agreementMay struck with the EU
– Sajid Javid –
A former investment banker and the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver,the 49-year-old Javid is the face of a modern, multicultural andmeritocratic Britain.
On the economically liberal wing of the Conservative Party, Javid voted forBritain to stay in the EU in 2016 but has since become an advocate ofBrexit.
He declared his candidacy on Monday, promising to “deliver Brexit” afterrepeated delays.
– Others –
International Development Secretary Rory Stewart is a former Foreign Officeofficial who served in the coalition administration in Iraq following theUS-led invasion in 2003.
Esther McVey, a Brexit supporter and former TV presenter, McVey resignedfrom the government last year in protest against a compromise Brexit dealstruck with the EU. -APP/AFP
