Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Reports of two IOF soldiers killed in military vehicle explosion in Rafah.
Israeli media: Israeli soldier killed, another wounded in explosion in Rafah.
Medical sources in West Bank: Palestinian killed by occupation fire; wounded and left to bleed while ambulance crews were barred from reaching him in Al-Ain refugee camp, west of Nablus.
Hamas: Facts on ground reveal opposite of claims, as occupation authorities were ones who armed criminal gangs that practiced murder and kidnapping against people of Gaza.
Hamas: US Department of State's false claims fully in line with Israeli disinformation.
Hamas responds to US claims in statement, fully rejects US claims of "imminent attack" or violation of ceasefire.
Field sources in West Bank: Israeli bulldozers vandalize Palestinian lands northwest of Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Settlers attack Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles near olive groves in Turmus Ayya north of Ramallah.
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.

Sunak, Johnson convene to discuss competing in next PM replacement

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Oct 2022 08:09
3 Min Read

Tory MPs are persuading Johnson to withdraw and back Sunak instead, the former is attempting to gain popularity again through his ties with grassroot members.

  • x
  • Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson (The Independent)
    Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson (The Independent)

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, competitors due to replace now former PM Liz Truss, convened on Saturday to talk over the Conservative leadership contest, and according to sources, are seeking to abolish the need to take a possibly divisive vote between them to party members.

Tory MPs called on Johnson and Sunak to set aside differences and agree on one of them being the next PM while the other would serve in a senior cabinet position. However, that possibility came close to impossible due to previous tension between the two men when Sunak resigned as finance minister during Johnson's term. 

The third candidate, Penny Mordaunt, was the one to publicly announce the men's candidacy but she herself has less support. With Johnson falling a little behind Sunak in the race, the latter scored a win on Saturday with the support of International Trade Secretary and key figure on the party’s right, Kemi Badenoch. 

With the Tories already in panic mode after Liz Truss’s exit 44 days after being declared prime minister, a potential clash between Sunak and Johnson has the party even more alarmed. Truss has become the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of the country. She said she would stay in office until her replacement was picked, noting that a new party leader would be voted next week. 

Related News

UK faces legal petition over war crimes in Palestine occupation era

Files reveal Blair resisted Israeli pressures to ban Palestine charity

Johnson’s Brexit minister, Lord Frost, said the party should "move on" and back Sunak. In agreement with that, ex-party chairman Lord Ashcroft published a tweet commenting that Johnson should sit aside and support his former chancellor.  

Whatever the talents of @BorisJohnson and he has many but this is not his time…Boris please support Rishi (it’s now only between @RishiSunak and @PennyMordaunt and while I do love Penny ( she has the same birthday as me) it’s not her time either. So a coronation for Rishi pls …

— Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) October 22, 2022

Sunak could have more chances at not just becoming PM but reuniting the divided party. Johnson may beat the odds with his ties to grassroot members, who will end up having a final say in the election of the next PM. Nonetheless, his previous policies and neglect such as his Partygate scandal led to low support for the Tories in the polls and Truss dragged the results down even further to a record low.

As Badenoch became the most prominent member to advocate for Sunak, she has the potential to persuade and influence the votes of other MPs, particularly among those who backed Brexit. She called Sunak the “serious, honest leader we need,” in an article for the Sunday Times.

She wrote: “We are very different people with a difference in approach on numerous issues, but I believe he understands the necessity for unity and bringing others along on the journey before making difficult decisions,” 

The party has set a maximum of 100 MPs for candidates to get on the ballot paper, and there is currently a total of 357 MPs in the Tories party. The list will be boiled down to two rivals on the same day if there are three competitors who pass the threshold. If one candidate does not withdraw by Monday, grassroots members have until Friday to vote.

  • UK Prime Minister
  • Rishi Sunak
  • Liz Truss
  • Penny Mordaunt
  • UK
  • Boris Johnson
  • Kemi Badenoch

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iraqi religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi on Al Mayadeen Plus, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Most powerful decision-maker in Iraq is US: Sheikh Al-Khalisi

Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Iran, Russia, China confirm: Iran nuclear issue out of UNSC

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Ali Fayyad speaks to Al Mayadeen, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Hezbollah, allies will reject direct talks with 'Israel': MP Fayyad

The bodies of killed Palestinians held by "Israel" during the war are downloaded from Red Cross vehicles after their release, at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP)
Politics

From rubble to graveyards, Gaza continues recovering its martyrs

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS