The race to replace Boris Johnson as the UK’s next prime minister is hotting up.
Here are the candidates left in the Tory leadership contest following the first round of voting.
Rishi Sunak
Age: 42
Ministerial experience: UK chancellor of the exchequer until July 5th when he quit in protest over Borish Johnson's leadership.
What did he do before politics? Hedge fund manager.
What does he say on tax? He has promised to get the tax burden down once inflation is under control, saying “it is a question of when, not if”, but warned rivals “it is not credible to promise lots more spending and lower taxes”.
What does he say on defence spending? He views the Nato target of 2 per cent of GDP as a “floor and not a ceiling” and notes it is set to rise to 2.5 per cent “over time” but refuses to set “arbitrary targets”.
What is his position on identity politics? He has criticised “trends to erase women via the use of clumsy, gender-neutral language”.
How did he vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Leave.
Constituency: Richmond (Yorks).
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 88.
Lowest odds: 6/4.
Penny Mordaunt
Our leadership has to change. It needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship. https://t.co/NlpxAb9Dp4#pm4pm pic.twitter.com/hhfFXD6KCs
— Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt) July 10, 2022
Age: 49.
Ministerial experience: Currently UK trade minister, has had cabinet jobs in the defence and international development briefs.
What did she do before politics? She was a magician’s assistant while in college before a career in public relations.
What does she say about tax? She has pledged a 50 per cent cut in VAT on fuel. But she insists she will maintain control of the public finances.
What does she say on defence spending? She stands by the manifesto commitment to the Nato target but would also create a civil defence force to supplement the military.
Where does she stand on identity politics? She said: “It was Margaret Thatcher who said, ‘Every prime minister needs a Willie’. A woman like me doesn’t have one.”
How did she vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Leave.
Constituency: Portsmouth North.
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 67.
Lowest odds: 13/8.
Liz Truss
I have a clear vision for our country and economy - and the experience and resolve to deliver it.https://t.co/koPyqw4wIG#lizforleader pic.twitter.com/V9jENJmyj6
— Liz for Leader (@trussliz) July 11, 2022
Age: 46.
Ministerial experience: Current UK foreign secretary.
What did she do before politics? Worked as an economist for Shell and Cable and Wireless and was then a deputy director for right-of-centre think tank Reform.
What does she say on tax? She has pledged to “start cutting taxes from day one”, reversing April’s rise in national insurance and promising to keep “corporation tax competitive”.
How did she vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Remain.
Constituency: South West Norfolk.
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 50.
Lowest odds: 10/3.
Tom Tugendhat
Age: 49.
Ministerial experience: Never held ministerial office but chairs the UK's Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.
What did he do before politics? Served in the Army Intelligence Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan and was an adviser to the Chief of Defence Staff.
What does he say about tax? He would cut 10p a litre off fuel duty and change tax incentives to encourage business investment.
What is his position on defence spending? He would increase it to 3 per cent of GDP saying national security must come before “bean counters and spreadsheets”.
How did he vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Remain.
Constituency: Tonbridge and Malling.
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 37.
Lowest odds: 16/1.
Suella Braverman
Age: 42.
Ministerial experience: Current UK attorney general.
What did she do before entering politics? She was a barrister specialising in public law and judicial review cases, including defending the Home Office in immigration cases.
What does she say about tax? She would cut VAT on energy and fuel bills. Corporation tax would also be cut to attract and incentivise investment.
What does she say on the net-zero target? Says the “all-consuming desire” to achieve the target by 2050 should be suspended otherwise the economy “will end up with zero growth”.
Where does she stand on identity politics? Wants to get rid of “woke rubbish” and return to “a country where describing a man and a woman in terms of biology does not mean that you’re going to lose your job”.
How did she vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Leave.
Constituency: Fareham.
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 32.
Lowest odds: 50/1.
Kemi Badenoch
Age: 42.
Ministerial experience: Resigned as UK equalities minister and a minister in the Levelling Up department on July 6th.
What did she do before politics? Worked in McDonald’s while at college, trained as an engineer, became an associate director at private bank Coutts and held a senior role with the Spectator magazine.
What does she say on tax? She is committed to reducing corporate and personal taxes but told rivals: “I will not enter into a tax bidding war over ‘my tax cuts are bigger than yours’.”
What does she say about the net-zero target? Has described the current policy as “unilateral economic disarmament” that is being pursued “without thought” for industries in the poorer parts of the UK.
What’s her position on identity politics? A possible indication: the gender-neutral toilets at the venue for her campaign launch had paper “men” and “ladies” signs taped to the doors.
How did she vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum? Leave.
Constituency: Saffron Walden.
Votes in the first round of the leadership contest: 40.
Lowest odds: 10/1.
