sIn addition to Javid, the new finance minister, Nadim Zahawi, and former foreign and health minister Jeremy Hunt, who faced off against Boris Johnson in 2019 for leadership of the Conservative Party, have presented themselves as candidates.
British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier announced the candidacy after four other MPs applied for the post.
Shapps announced his candidacy after Johnson submitted, on Thursday, his resignation as the leader of the Conservative Party, and thus as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
In addition to Shapps, former Economy Minister Rishi Sunak, House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Tugendhat, Attorney General Suila Braverman and former Foreign Secretary have all indicated their aspirations for Johnson’s position.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, another favorite, today ruled out the possibility of running in the party’s elections, writing on his Twitter account that he is focused on maintaining the country’s security.
Next Monday, the influential 1922 Committee – a group of Conservative MPs without portfolio – will elect the Board of Directors and announce the timetable for selecting the new leader of the Conservative Party.
Johnson was forced to resign after more than 50 members of his government resigned in protest of his political administration and after a series of scandals.
Read also: The Minister of Transport announces his candidacy for a conservative leader