The leader of the British House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, became this Friday the first candidate to succeed Liz Truss in the leadership of the Conservative Party and in the position of prime minister.
“I have been heartened by the support of colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest,” he wrote on Twitter.
Mordaunt, who came third behind Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in previous national elections, said he wanted to “unite the country, deliver on promises [do Partido Conservador] and win” the next legislative elections.
The minister in charge of relations with parliament is one of the favorites of the conservative militants and there has been speculation that she could reach an agreement with Sunak to resign one in favor of the other.
Charismatic, the 49-year-old former defense minister stood out in parliament on Monday when she defended Liz Truss to the opposition, saying the prime minister was not “hiding under the desk”.
The Conservative Party today opened bids for the second leadership election in three months, following the July resignation of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss on Thursday.
To be eligible, MP candidates need the support of at least 100 colleagues before the deadline on Monday at 2:00 p.m. local time (the same time in Lisbon).
A first vote reserved for the conservative parliamentary group is scheduled for the same day if more than two candidates qualify.
The two finalists will be put to an electronic vote by an estimated 170,000 Conservative activists and the result will be announced on Friday.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak are favorites, but neither has yet confirmed the candidacy.
Truss’s successor will be appointed prime minister and invited by King Charles III to form a government as leader of the party with a parliamentary majority.
Source: TSF
