Who Could Succeed Boris Johnson? Rishi Sunak Is A Contender

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid quit their roles within minutes of each other, citing the tone and conduct of the premier and his government.

Boris Johnson's leadership is in peril again after the double resignation late Tuesday of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid. Without a clear front runner to succeed him, there are many senior Tories will fancy their chances if he's ousted. 

Sunak and Javid quit their roles within minutes of each other, citing the tone and conduct of the premier and his government. The premier moved swiftly to replace them, promoting Nadhim Zahawi and Steve Barclay, but his allies judge that he'd struggle to survive if many more members of his top team quit. As it is, there have been a slew of resignations from more junior posts.

The resignations come after a string of scandals that have tainted Johnson's leadership, culminating in 10 Downing Street's changing messaging about what the premier knew and when about allegations surrounding the behavior of Chris Pincher -- who quit last week as a government whip, or enforcer, -- less than half a year after being promoted to the role. 

Johnson's handling of partygate -- he became the first sitting prime minister found to have broken the law in office by attending an illegal gathering during the Covid-19 lockdown -- led to a confidence vote in his leadership last month. He narrowly survived that, but the latest scandal has brought new opponents who could ultimately help bring him down.