This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/24/boris-johnson-favourite-as-uk-to-have-new-pm-by-end-of-july

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Boris Johnson: UK will leave EU in October, deal or no deal Boris Johnson: UK will leave EU in October, deal or no deal
(31 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has said the UK must leave the EU by the end of October with or without a deal, as he set out a hardline Brexit stance just hours after Theresa May resigned. Boris Johnson has thrown down the gauntlet to his Conservative leadership rivals by insisting the UK must leave the EU by the end of October with or without a deal, as he set out a hardline Brexit stance just hours after Theresa May resigned.
Johnson is the favourite among Conservative members to take over as prime minister by the last week of July, but he will face competition from as many as 20 Conservative MPs vying for the top job. Johnson is the favourite among Conservative members to take over as prime minister by the last week of July, but he will face competition from as many as 20 rivals.
The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was the first cabinet minister to say he would stand. Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary, said he would take time to think about it over the weekend. The environment secretary, Michael Gove, and the home secretary, Sajid Javid, are also expected to announce leadership bids in the coming days. The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was the first cabinet minister to say he would stand, while Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary, said he would take time to think about it over the weekend. The environment secretary, Michael Gove, and the home secretary, Sajid Javid, are also expected to announce leadership bids in the coming days.
The contest is shaping up to be a test of where the candidates stand on Brexit, with Johnson taking a firm stance on leaving by the EU’s next deadline. According to Reuters, Johnson told a conference in Interlaken in Switzerland: “We will leave the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal.” The contest is shaping up to be a test of where the candidates stand on Brexit, with Johnson taking a firm stance on leaving by the EU’s next deadline.
He told a conference in Interlaken, Switzerland: “We will leave the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal.”
He suggested he could try to renegotiate a better deal with Brussels before pressing ahead with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit if necessary. “A new leader will have the opportunity to do things differently and have the momentum of a new administration,” he said.He suggested he could try to renegotiate a better deal with Brussels before pressing ahead with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit if necessary. “A new leader will have the opportunity to do things differently and have the momentum of a new administration,” he said.
Raab, also a leave supporter, is attracting support from some Brexit hardliners on the right of the party, so Johnson will come under some pressure to demonstrate how prepared he is to leave without a deal. A supporter of Johnson said he would make an effort to secure changes to the current deal to try to ensure the Northern Ireland border backstop would not endure indefinitely, but he would press ahead with leaving on 31 October if that cannot be agreed with the EU27.
Soft Brexit candidates such as Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, will be keen to position themselves as the choice for those who oppose leaving without a withdrawal agreement. Raab, also a leave supporter, is attracting support from some Brexit hardliners in the party so Johnson will come under some pressure to demonstrate how prepared he is to leave without a deal.
The Conservative party said the leadership contest would begin on 10 June, with MPs whittling down the large field of candidates to a shortlist by the end of that month. The strongly Eurosceptic Tory party membership will then vote to choose their leader, who will automatically become prime minister. Clear soft Brexit candidates, such as Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, will be keen to position themselves as the choice for those who oppose leaving without a withdrawal agreement.
In previous contests, there have been two candidates put forward for the membership to vote on, but the party could not immediately confirm that the same format would be followed this time. But it leaves cabinet ministers such as Hunt, Gove, Javid, and Matt Hancock, the health secretary, with a dilemma about how far they should go in opening the door to a no-deal Brexit, having advocated May’s deal as a better option.
The candidates have begun declaring their intent even though the leadership contest does not begin officially until 10 June, three days after May stands down as Tory leader. MPs will take part in several rounds of voting to whittle down the large field of around 20 to a shortlist of two by the end of that month.
One MP on the executive of the 1922 Committee, which organises the contest, said those with the fewest votes would face pressure to drop out quickly to avoid wasting time.
He predicted all but the top four to six would withdraw after the first round or two of voting. “MPs and the voluntary party all want this done as quickly as possible,” he said, dismissing any idea that May could stay on as a caretaker prime minister over the summer.
After the MPs choose their shortlist, the strongly Eurosceptic Tory party membership will vote to choose their leader, who will automatically become prime minister before parliament’s summer break. Recess dates have not yet been announced, but the Commons rose on 24 July last year.
Who should be the next Tory leader? Our panel responds | Polly Toynbee and othersWho should be the next Tory leader? Our panel responds | Polly Toynbee and others
The party chairman, Brandon Lewis, and two vice-chairs of the backbench 1922 Committee, Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker, made a joint announcement about the timetable. “Successive rounds of voting will take place until a final choice of candidates to put to a vote of all party members is determined. Johnson, a former foreign secretary and leading leave campaigner, will have James Wharton, a former MP, acting as his campaign manager. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of the Eurosceptic European Research Group, is a key backer and there have been reports that the political strategist Lynton Crosby is providing informal advice.
“We expect that process to be concluded by the end of June, allowing for a series of hustings around the UK for members to meet and question the candidates, then cast their votes in time for the result to be announced before parliament rises for the summer.” Raab is backed by David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, and has assembled a campaign team advised by Hanbury Strategy’s Paul Stephenson, a former Vote Leave staff member.
Summer recess dates have not yet been announced, but the Commons rose on 24 July last year. The two men have attracted the most financial support in donations declared on the MPs’ register of interests in recent months, with Johnson amassing £130,000 and Raab £115,000.
Conservative MPs expect up to 20 of their number to announce leadership bids in the coming days, as senior figures struggle to resist having a shot at becoming prime minister without having to face a general election.
Johnson, a former foreign secretary and leading leave campaigner, will run with James Wharton, a former MP, acting as his campaign manager. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of the Eurosceptic European Research Group, is a key backer and there have been reports that the election guru Lynton Crosby is providing informal advice.
His nearest rival is Raab, who has assembled a campaign team advised by Hanbury Strategy’s Paul Stephenson, a former Vote Leave staffer, and is backed by David Davis, the former Brexit secretary.
The leading candidates from May’s cabinet are Gove, Hunt, Javid, and the health secretary, Matt Hancock – all of whom may struggle with the membership over their support for the prime minister’s unpopular Brexit deal.
Andrea Leadsom, a leave supporter whose decision to quit as leader of the House of Commons helped trigger May’s departure, is another significant candidate on the Eurosceptic wing of the party. She was May’s adversary last time but dropped out of the race before the Conservative membership had a chance to vote.Andrea Leadsom, a leave supporter whose decision to quit as leader of the House of Commons helped trigger May’s departure, is another significant candidate on the Eurosceptic wing of the party. She was May’s adversary last time but dropped out of the race before the Conservative membership had a chance to vote.
Other hopefuls who sit in the cabinet include Penny Mordaunt, the defence secretary, and Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury.Other hopefuls who sit in the cabinet include Penny Mordaunt, the defence secretary, and Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury.
An array of backbenchers and junior ministers also fancy their chances. James Cleverly, recently promoted to be a Brexit minister, is expected to throw his hat in the ring and Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, is considering whether to stand despite having little name recognition outside Westminster. The former chief whip Mark Harper is also thought to be preparing a campaign.An array of backbenchers and junior ministers also fancy their chances. James Cleverly, recently promoted to be a Brexit minister, is expected to throw his hat in the ring and Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, is considering whether to stand despite having little name recognition outside Westminster. The former chief whip Mark Harper is also thought to be preparing a campaign.
From the hard-Brexit wing of the party, Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, has declared she will run, while Steve Baker, one of the most vocal holdouts against May’s deal, has said he will consider whether to stand over the weekend.From the hard-Brexit wing of the party, Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, has declared she will run, while Steve Baker, one of the most vocal holdouts against May’s deal, has said he will consider whether to stand over the weekend.
BrexitBrexit
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Conservative leadership
Theresa MayTheresa May
ConservativesConservatives
Conservative leadership European Union
Foreign policy
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content