Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has emerged as a frontrunner in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative party. AFP/VNA Photo

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Ollie Arci

As the shock of UK PM Boris Johnson’s resignation reverberates and the dust settles after a few days of non-stop news, many leading figures in the Conservative party are already holed up with advisers, plotting their campaigns to take over as leader and Prime Minister.

A number of them, particularly those cabinet members who had a hand in accelerating the inevitable, will be front runners as Johnson’s replacement, while backbench MPs may take the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring. It won’t be until the influential 1922 Committee meets on Monday will Boris know his fate, and how quickly he will have to vacate Downing Street.

The winner is expected to replace Johnson by the party’s annual conference in early October, but the timetable could be expedited, especially considering the current tensions.

Ahead of that decision, here are some educated guesses on the names we will be seeing in the coming weeks.

Ben Wallace

Currently the Secretary of State for Defence, a YouGov survey of Tory members suggested Wallace is the favourite to become new Conservative leader. A 52-year-old veteran, Wallace became a key voice in Britain’s response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has earned plaudits for his no-nonsense attitude and appeal to a wide range of Conservative voters.

Penny Mordaunt

A fellow Brexiteer, Mordaunt is popular among rank-and-file Conservative party members and has taken up a number of ministerial posts under the last three governments. Many see Mordaunt as a compromise candidate who could help heal current divisions with the party.

Rishi Sunak

A popular Chancellor of the Exchequer among Tory voters, especially after setting policies to prop up businesses during the pandemic, Sunak was central in efforts to oust Johnson, hinting at his desire to run for higher office. A rising star within the party, some feel his family finances could dampen his appeal among the wider electorate.

Sajid Javid

Former health secretary, leadership candidate and another of the cabinet ministers whose resignations prompted the end of the PM’s tenure, Javid has had frequent run-ins with Johnson, including quitting as Treasury chief only to be asked to handle the country’s pandemic response a few months later.

Nadhim Zahawi

Just two days after being chosen to manage the Treasury, Zahawi very publicly turned on Johnson and joined calls for his ouster. Previously, he was vaccine minister and garnered praise for the UK’s swift roll-out of inoculations. The Iraq-born MP is seen as a competent and safe pair of hands.

Liz Truss

As lead negotiator with the EU following the UK’s withdrawal, Truss has become a Brexit icon and gained favour with the right-wing of the party and her old boss Boris thanks to her pro-free-market position. Since taking on the role as foreign secretary, Truss has been gaining momentum and seems keen to follow in Thatcher’s footsteps.

Jeremy Hunt

Having been out of the cabinet since heavily losing the last leadership election to Johnson, Hunt may be looking for another opportunity to get into power but starts as a slight outsider. Hunt has regained some public trust after leading criticisms of the government’s pandemic response measures. VNS