Boris Johnson’s resignation fires the starting gun for the Conservative leadership’s race to replace him | News from politics

Boris Johnson’s resignation has effectively kickstarted the race for the Conservative Party leadership to replace him.

The question remains whether his desperate attempts to cling on as prime minister mean he cannot remain in office while his successor is chosen.

Tom Tugendhat was the first Conservative MP to put forward a leadership bid after Mr Johnson’s resignation speech.

The leader of the special committee on foreign affairs told the Daily Telegraph his party needed a “clean start”.

“We need to put government back to work for the people – and we need to give them that clean start,” he wrote.

“As civil servants, our actions must serve the interests of the British people.

“I’ve served before – in the military and now in Parliament.

“Now I hope to answer the call again as Prime Minister. It’s time for a clean start. It is time for renewal.”

Sky News understands Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is also considering a Conservative Party leadership bid.

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who resigned on Tuesday night, is also set to decide whether to take part in the competition, according to the PA news agency.

But Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Michael Gove have both eliminated themselves from the competition, Sky News has been told.

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who resigned for breaking COVID rules, is also said to be uninterested in a leadership offer.

“It’s time for a clean start”

Elsewhere, previously spoken Mr Johnson has announced his resignationBen Wallace declined to comment on whether he would run to replace him.

The Defense Secretary, a lead candidate to replace Mr Johnson, was asked if he would seek the lead job while visiting a military training ground in northern England.

“Let’s see what the Prime Minister says,” he said.

Sky News political correspondent Joe Pike understands Mr Wallace will discuss the matter with his family before deciding whether or not to make an offer.

Before Mr Johnson resigned on Thursday, Attorney General Suella Braverman told ITV’s political editor Robert Peston that “yes” she would hypothetically consider a leadership bid if the Prime Minister were to step aside.

Passionate Brexiteer Steve Baker has also indicated he would run.

While Economy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has also indicated he will throw his hat in the ring.

“We need a new leader as soon as possible now. Someone who can restore trust, heal the country and show a new, sane and consistent economic approach to supporting families,” he said.

Read more: Who are the frontrunners to be the next PM?

In his resignation speech to Number 10 on Thursday, Mr Johnson confirmed a timeline for the process to choose a new leader would be set next week.

‘Unwise’ for Johnson to stay until fall

He said he intends to remain in Number 10 until his successor is elected, but he faces opposition to the plan from within his own party.

The leadership contest schedule is set to result in a succession by the party convention in October.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major said it was “unwise and possibly unsustainable” for Mr Johnson to stay for so long.

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Also Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer threatened with a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, with support from other opposition parties if Tory MPs cannot oust him immediately.

Mr Johnson has already appointed new cabinet ministers to replace MPs who resigned in protest at his leadership.

These include Greg Clark as the new secretary, replacing Mr Gove and James Cleverly as education secretary – the third person to hold the role in as many days.

The new cabinet met on Thursday afternoon but no news cameras were allowed.

Mr Johnson communicated his government to his cabinet ministers will not attempt to implement new policies or make major changes in direction after he resigns as leader of the Conservative Party.

He is addressing his newly assembled top team of ministers for the first time since resigning earlier on ThursdayMr Johnson said his priority was to “continue to deliver on manifesto promises and ensure the government is on the side of the public on the cost of energy, transport and housing and everything else that is important to them”.

He also said the government “would focus on implementing the agenda on which the government was elected” and that “key budgetary decisions should be left to the next prime minister”.