Rishi Sunak, the former finance minister, is also running for the post of prime minister.
(Photo: dpa)
London After the announced departure of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, nine conservative politicians have already applied to succeed him. Trade Secretary Penny Mordaunt announced her candidacy on Sunday.
“Our leadership needs to change. It has to be less about the person at the top and much more about the ship,” the 49-year-old tweeted. Mordaunt has made a name for herself as a staunch supporter of Brexit and is very popular with the party’s grass roots.
There are now four current cabinet members in the running: in addition to Mordaunt, Treasury Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and General Counsel Suella Braverman. Secretary of State Liz Truss is also expected to submit her candidacy. According to media reports, the application period runs until Tuesday evening. Then the faction members of the Conservative Party select two candidates in several rounds of voting – the party members then decide between them in a runoff.