U.K. transport minister latest Tory MP to unveil bid to replace Johnson
The Hindu
Grant Shapps, a lawmaker who served in the cabinet under former premier David Cameron, vowed to provide “strategic” and “sober” government
Britain’s transport secretary on Saturday became the fifth Conservative MP to launch a bid to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a long-shot addition to the growing and already acrimonious leadership race.
Grant Shapps, an experienced lawmaker who first served in the cabinet under former premier David Cameron back in 2010 but not among the current frontrunners in the polls to replace Johnson, vowed to provide “strategic” and “sober” government.
His announcement came hours after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who has impressed in the role amid the war in Ukraine and has been one of Tory members’ favourites in several recent surveys, said he will not run after discussing standing with colleagues and family.
“It has not been an easy choice to make, but my focus is on my current job and keeping this great country safe,” he added on Twitter.
The likely months-long campaign, potentially pitting more than a dozen Conservative MPs and multiple factions of the ruling party against each another, is set to be formalised on Monday when a committee of backbenchers will meet to agree the timetable and rules.
The early frontrunner is former finance minister Rishi Sunak, who helped kickstart the cabinet revolt that led to Johnson's forced resignation on Thursday.
Mr. Sunak resigned late on Tuesday, triggering dozens of more junior colleagues to follow suit and forcing his ex-boss to then quit as Tory leader 36 hours later.
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