Rishi Sunak, Runner-Up To Frontrunner, May Become UK PM

After Boris Johnson unexpectedly stopped his campaign for prime minister, Rishi Sunak appears to be in line to succeed him. Penny Mordaunt, the other candidate, is far from reaching the threshold needed to run in the election to succeed Liz Truss.

The main updates on this story are as follows:

1. 142 members of the parliament have endorsed Sunak, significantly more than the necessary 100 to win the presidency. After losing to Liz Truss in the summer leadership race, the Tory MP decided to run again for the position on Sunday.
2. In a brief statement announcing his candidacy, the former chancellor of Indian descent stated, “I want to heal our economy, unify our party, and deliver for our country.”
3. Boris Johnson unexpectedly said on Sunday that he would not be able to lead “a unified party in parliament,” having cut short his Caribbean vacation to attempt to gain the support of 100 lawmakers to join Monday’s contest.
4. Johnson, 58, said that while he could have been “back in Downing Street,” he was unable to convince Penny Mordaunt or Sunak to work together “in the national interest.”
5. Johnson, 58, said late on Sunday, “I feel I have much to give but I am afraid that now is simply not the appropriate moment.”
6. Shortly after the news, Sunak sent out a tweet commending his former boss’s leadership for guiding the nation through some of its most difficult difficulties, including Brexit, the Covid vaccination deployment, and the war in Ukraine.
7. He said, “I really hope he continues to contribute to public life in India and abroad, even if he has opted not to run for PM again.
8. Since Johnson withdrew, Penny Mordaunt is the only one left to oppose Rishi Sunak, but she is far from having 100 supporters. According to reports, Ms. Mordaunt, who entered the contest on Friday, has the backing of 29 MPs.
9. By Monday at 2 p.m. local time, Rishi Sunak will become prime minister if Mordaunt is unable to get the backing of 100 MPs.
10. Sunak has gained further notoriety in India because to his wife Akshata Murty, who is the millionaire co-founder of Infosys Narayana Murthy’s daughter.