Kemi Badenoch enters race to lead Tories, become next PM

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Former Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch became Saturday the latest Conservative MP to enter the race to become the next leader of the British Tory party and the United Kingdom's prime minister.

Badenoch confirmed her candidacy in The Times, and said she wanted a limited government and to "tell the truth."

You’ve probably heard that I’m running for the party leadership. It’s important you understand why. My article in The Times today 👇 https://t.co/3CbACk0pkq pic.twitter.com/gBDyD6tb4e

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 9, 2022

Resigned UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is one of the top contenders to lead the Tories following Boris Johnson's resignation from the Conservative Party two days ago. He gained huge popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic after proposing a package worth tens of billions of pounds to support businesses and workers.

The Attorney General in the UK Cabinet from the Tory party, Suella Braverman, was early to formally declare her leadership bid. She is likely to win some support from the pro-Brexit wing of her party. Baverman has already gained the support of former Brexit minister Steve Baker after he said he would not stand.

Johnson, 58, announced that he would step down after a tsunami of resignations from his government in protest of his leadership. He will, however, stay as Prime Minister until a replacement is found.

#Johnson's resignation came after a three-year-long tenure that was distinguished by the number of scandals it saw, as well as crises such as #Brexit and the #COVID19 pandemic.#BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/W5cQMmvYRx

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 7, 2022

Badenoch, the MP for Saffron Walden, was among those to resign from their government jobs this week. She said she would lower taxes while having a "tight spending discipline."

"I'm putting myself forward in this leadership election because I want to tell the truth. It's the truth that will set us free."

Other figures who are said to be considering joining the race for the premiership include former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Defense Minister Ben Wallace, and former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

It seems that the public has to think about a replacement for #BorisJohnson in case he is ousted, especially after the many rapid resignations his troubled government is facing. pic.twitter.com/NIrzrFf3JP

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 6, 2022

A timetable for the Tory leadership race is set to be confirmed next week, and the new prime minister is expected to assume the post by September.