THE race to replace David Cameron at Number 10 has begun – but who will win?
Nominations for the leadership will close at midday on Thursday following Cam’s shock resignation in Downing Street.
The new Tory leader is expected to be in place by September 9.
But with so many questions still unanswered following the Leave vote in the EU referendum – the Tory leadership race has never been so important.
Boris Johnson 11/10
“We must reach out, we must heal, we must build bridges – because it is clear that some have feelings of dismay, and of loss, and confusion.”
The former London mayor is the bookies’ favourite after leading the Leave campaign to victory in the EU referendum.
But recent polls suggest home secretary Theresa May has more support than Bojo within the party.
The Etonian has been dubbed the most “hated man in the City” for his part in the Leave campaign.
It remains to be seen whether Bojo has the character to cope with political storm which the country currently finds itself in.
Theresa May 7/4
“I am clear that defeating terrorism requires a global response and that we will not succeed by acting in isolation.”
Her supporters will hope the longest-running home secretary in a century can run the Tory like she has done the Home Office.
She kept her head down during the bloody campaign which saw both sides fail to pull any punches.
But her coldness could put her on the back foot – her personality does not appeal to the wider public.
May hit the headlines for her speech on immigration last year.
In which she promised a “new British approach” including tougher treatment on people who travelled her from safe countries.
Her comments were slammed by Labour’s Andy Burnham as “misleading and narrow-minded”.
Stephen Crabb 7/1
“One of my earliest memories is of getting between my mother and father as he came at her with a knife – terrifying.”
Working class lad Stephen Crabb is very popular in the party – but his lack of experience is likely to work against him.
The Work and Pensions secretary – the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring – told a news conference he was not bothered about his underdog tag.
He said he “loves” his country and strongly believes he has the strengths to get the UK back on track.
Unlike many top Tories, Crabb was raised by a single mother on a council estate.
Andrea Leadsom 11/1
“David Cameron encouraged us to campaign with all our hearts for what we believe in and I think we do owe him a lot for that.”
The former banker – now energy minister – is “thinking very hard” about whether to run for leader.
The 53-year-old is the same age as Margaret Thatcher when she became Tory leader.
Seen as a true Brexiteer, she will push hard with strong support for a complete break from the EU.
Liam Fox 25/1
“If you look at the Leave team, they look like they like one another an awful lot more than the Remain team."
Fox has decided to run for Tory leader for the second time.
In 2005 he took part in the contest which saw David Cameron emerge as the winner.
A lobbying row cut short his cabinet career in 2011 when his unusual relationship with Andrew Werritty came to light.
Werritty – Fox’s best man at his wedding – had been on 18 trips with the MP.
He is good friends with Theresa May and may throw in the towel because they share similar views on many issues.
Jeremy Hunt 25/1
“We have the chance to make NHS patients the most powerful patients in the world – and we should leap at the opportunity.”
The health secretary, 49, can only be seen as a rank outsider after the long-running junior doctors’ row.
According to one YouGov poll earlier this year, Hunt was found to ve the most disliked frontline British politician around.
At the height of the junior doctors’ dispute he was more unpopular than Jeremy Corbyn.
He has said he is “seriously considering” running for the leadership despite saying his cabinet position would be his “last big job in politics”.
He is likely to come into trouble as he was part of the Remain campaign.
Hunt supports a snap General Election after the Tory leadership race is run, and a EU deal which secures free trade but controls movement of people.
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