Here's everyone who's running for Prime Minister
Three weeks ago, Theresa May gave her official notice of resignation as leader of the Conservative Party, meaning the hunt for a new Prime Minister is on. While May will continue to serve in the role of PM until a new party leader is elected (during the week of July 22), 11 candidates put themselves forward to be considered for the big job.
Sam Gyimah quickly dropped out of the race, followed by Matt Hancock a few days later, and four more candidates have been eliminated after failing to secure enough votes from Conservative MPs in the first two ballots. So here's who's left contending, and what they'd plan to do if they won...
1. Boris Johnson
Political CV: Boris’ most recent high profile role was as Foreign Secretary, which he held between 2016 and 2018. He also serves as MP for Uxbridge & South Ruislip.
Odds of winning (according to Paddy Power at the time of writing): 1/8
Stance on Brexit: Boris Johnson is perhaps one of the most outspoken pro-Brexiteers of all the candidates. He says under his watch, the UK would leave the EU on 31 October whether we have a deal negotiated or not. He has admitted, however, that a no-deal would cause “some disruption”.
What he plans to do as PM: Cut income tax bills for the wealthiest people. Johnson told the Telegraph he would up the 40% tax threshold to people who earn £80,000 or above, as opposed to £50,000 and above, as it stands now. The £9.6 billion this would lose the government each year would come from the money set aside for a no-deal Brexit, apparently.
2. Jeremy Hunt
Political CV: Jeremy Hunt is undeniably one of the most familiar names on this list, having been the controversial Secretary of State for Health and Social Care during the widely-publicised junior doctor contract dispute in 2017. He currently holds the position of Foreign Secretary, as well as being the MP for South West Surrey.
Odds of winning: 12/1
Stance on Brexit: Hunt is a Brexiteer who wants to leave the EU preferably with a deal. He believes it is possible to make enough changes to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement so it becomes satisfactory for previously unimpressed MPs before the October 31 Brexit deadline looms. If not, Hunt would be prepared to leave without a deal, however.
What he plans to do as PM: Reduce interest rates on student loans. Currently, students pay 3% plus RPI (retail price index – effectively the inflation rate) but Hunt says it would be fairer to charge RPI alone.
3. Michael Gove
Political CV: Michael Gove started out his career in journalism, where he went on to work for the likes of the BBC and The Times. In 2005, he was elected MP for Surrey Heath, and during his political career he has been Secretary of State for Education, Chief Whip, and Secretary of State for Justice. Currently, Gove is the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Odds of winning: 20/1
Stance on Brexit: Gove is a vocal Brexiteer who says he would consider yet another delay to Brexit to ensure we leave with a better deal. He says he would completely rule out another referendum.
What he plans to do as PM: Cut VAT, instead introducing a "lower, simpler" alternative to help boost the country's economy post-Brexit. Gove's "pro-business economic plan" would also include reducing business rates to help entice companies to contribute to the economy.
4. Rory Stewart
Political CV: Stewart was recently appointed Secretary of State for International Development, but previous to that he headed up the Ministry of Justice, as well as being MP for Penrith and The Border.
Odds of winning: 18/1
Stance on Brexit: Stewart is very anti- a no-deal Brexit, describing it as “catastrophic”. He proposes to find a way of getting Theresa May’s deal through Parliament, as he’s cynical the EU would be open to any other alternative.
What he plans to do as PM: Launch a compulsory National Citizen service for 16-year-olds. The scheme would force teens to spend four weeks "learning skills" and "giving back to the community" and, according to Stewart, would be "a fantastic way of bringing people together".
5. Sajid Javid
Political CV: Originally coming from a business and finance background, Javid became an MP for Bromsgrove in Worcester in 2010. Since then, he’s served in various different Secretary of State roles, and is currently the cabinet’s Home Secretary.
Odds of winning: 40/1
Stance on Brexit: Javid wants to make changes to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement – specifically surrounding the Irish border, which he proposes could be dealt with using a digitised system paid for by the UK. He does not want to extend the Brexit deadline any further than it already has been, and says the country should prepare for a no-deal in the event that a deal cannot be agreed.
What he plans to do as PM: Invest in a "multibillion-pound boost" for schools over a number of years, in a bid to "really change the life chances of so many young people."
Who's out of the race?
Andrea Leadsom
Political CV: As well as being the MP for South Northamptonshire (a role she’s held since 2010), Andrea Leadsom was also Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, where she oversaw the organisation of government business, until last month when she resigned.
Stance on Brexit: Leadsom has a three-step plan she believes would facilitate Brexit in time for October 31. That includes a summit with EU leaders to agree measures to enable a “smooth exit”, unspecified “alternative arrangements” for the matter of the Irish border, and two separate bills to lay out negotiations.
What she planned to do as PM: Overhaul the tuition fee system for students and young people. As well as introducing a delay on interest charges, she wants to expand the tuition fee system so that loans are available to people doing shorter degrees, apprenticeships, practical skills training and would-be entrepreneurs.
Dominic Raab
Political CV: As well as being MP for Esher and Walton in Surrey, Raab also held the position of Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (otherwise known as Brexit Secretary) between July and November 2018.
Stance on Brexit: Former Brexit Minister Raab wants to reopen Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement for further discussion. But proving he’ll go to any lengths to ensure the UK does leave the EU, he said he wouldn’t rule out shutting down Parliament if MPs tried to scupper a no-deal Brexit.
What he planned to do as PM: Reduce income tax to help workers, as well as implement better employment rights for mums.
Esther McVey
Political CV: Esther McVey is currently the Conservative MP for Wirral West, but she has also held some cabinet jobs over the past few years, including most recently, being the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Stance on Brexit: McVey takes a hard line approach to Brexit, saying she would implement a Brexiteer-only cabinet until the UK left the EU. She would be prepared to leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without a deal.
What she planned to do as PM: Increase wages for public sector workers, boost police budgets, and up funding for education.
Mark Harper
Political CV: Harper is MP for the Forest of Dean, but was previously Chief Whip in cabinet, as well as Minister for Immigration and Minister for Disabled People.
Stance on Brexit: Harper wants Brexit to go ahead, ideally with a deal, but he has also said it’s “not credible” that a brand new deal could be negotiated before the Brexit deadline of October 31. It follows that he would either try to extend the deadline, or agree to leaving without a deal.
What he planned to do as PM: Bring "fresh thinking" to the cabinet, taking a new approach to party leadership including more consultation with the Irish government over Brexit.
Matt Hancock
Political CV: Matt Hancock is our current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, having been in that role for almost a year. Prior, he was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and he is also the MP for West Suffolk.
Stance on Brexit: Hancock says he will avoid leaving the EU with no deal at all costs – even if that means not leaving at all.
What he planned to do as PM: Do away with business rates for small companies while increasing tax on internet giants to give the high street a chance at survival.
Sam Gyimah
Political CV: Gyimah is currently MP for East Surrey, but has also been a joint Minister for Higher Education at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Education.
Stance on Brexit: Gyimah believes there should be another referendum about Brexit due to the division of the country. A second referendum under Gyimah would consist of two questions: whether we leave or remain in the EU, and in the eventuality of Brexit, whether people prefer Theresa May’s deal, or no deal at all.
What he planned to do as PM: Other than call a second referendum on Brexit, Sam Gyimah wanted to make tax reforms to help boost businesses, and help young people get on the property ladder by scrapping stamp duty on homes worth less than a million and building over a million houses over the next five years.
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