UK Politics: The runners and riders to replace Rishi Sunak

As plots to oust the Prime Minister continue, The Telegraph looks at the top contenders to take over as Conservative leader.

Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman

Gordon Rayner,

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Plots to oust Rishi Sunak have not gone away despite his victory over backbench rebels in last week’s vote on his flagship Rwanda Bill.

With former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke becoming the most senior Tory figure to call for a change of leadership and a new poll suggesting a new leader might stand a chance of beating Sir Keir Starmer, speculation about Mr Sunak’s future will continue.

A number of MPs are understood to have submitted letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister to the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers. If 52 letters are received, a confidence vote would be triggered.

Who would be the leading contenders to replace Mr Sunak if the plotters were to get their way?

Kemi Badenoch, 44

Kemi Badenoch

CREDIT: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The Business Secretary, who is also minister for women and equalities, is the current bookies’ favourite to be the next Tory leader, with most offering odds of 3-1. She also has the highest net satisfaction rating of any Cabinet minister among readers of the influential ConservativeHome website, run by former Tory MP Paul Goodman.

Penny Mordaunt, 50

Penny Mordaunt

CREDIT: Paul Grover for The Telegraph

The Leader of the House of Commons came third in the 2022 leadership contest, and boosted her popularity and her name recognition with her prominent ceremonial role at last year’s Coronation. She is the second most popular Cabinet minister among ConservativeHome readers in its monthly poll and typically comes in at 5-1 with bookies.

Suella Braverman, 43

Suella Braverman

CREDIT: Maria Unger/PA

The former home secretary remains hugely popular with the Tory base, who admired her tough stance on illegal migration. Offered typical odds of 11-2, she might struggle to beat Mrs Badenoch to the support of the right of the party, having made an early exit in the 2022 leadership race.

James Cleverly, 54

James Cleverly

CREDIT: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Having served as education secretary, foreign secretary and now Home Secretary, Mr Cleverly is one of the Cabinet’s more experienced pairs of hands, though he ranks only 22nd among ministers in the ConservativeHome poll. The Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel nevertheless attracts odds as low as 7-1 with some bookmakers.

Lord Cameron, 57

Lord David Cameron

CREDIT: Uwe Deffner/Alamy

Despite sitting in the House of Lords, making him ineligible to return as prime minister, enough punters believe he will relinquish his peerage and become an MP again for bookies to offer odds of 20-1 on him replacing Mr Sunak. The Foreign Secretary has a negative approval rating with ConservativeHome readers.

Nigel Farage, 59

Nigel Farage

CREDIT: Tayfun Salci/Alamy

Like Lord Cameron, the Reform UK honorary president is not eligible to be Tory leader, because he is neither a Tory nor is he an MP. Nevertheless, bookies are offering odds of 20-1 that he will switch allegiance, stand as a Tory MP and replace Mr Sunak.

Boris Johnson, 59

Boris Johnson

CREDIT: Matt Dunham/AP

Could Mr Johnson be the Tories’ once and future king? Allies believe he still has ambitions to return to Downing Street, and he is a serial winner, typically attracting odds of 25-1. Having given up his seat in June last year, he would first need to be re-elected to Parliament.

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