Liz Truss stepped down as British Prime Minister on Thursday after a short and difficult term in office in which her policies sparked turmoil in financial markets and a rebellion within her party that curtailed her authority.
Several lawmakers had demanded her resignation after weeks of turmoil over her economic plan. Her stepping down marks the third resignation by a Conservative prime minister in as many years, leaving a divided party in search of a leader who can unite its warring factions.
Let’s have a look at the front-runners for the post of the next UK Prime Minister:
Rishi Sunak
Sunak ran against Truss in the Conservative leadership polls this summer. He is the Sky Bet’s favourite, with the bookmaker paying £7 ($7.83) for every £4 bet on the former chancellor, according to a Bloomberg report.
Sunak, who lost in the leadership race last month to Truss’s failed tax cut agenda, is seen as a top contender for the job. But the picture remains extremely uncertain due to the intense struggle within the conservative ranks.
Boris Johnson
Sky Bet is seeing speculation that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was the face of the Brexit vote, will make a comeback as the UK PM. Johnson had won votes in parts UK that had never before voted Conservative. But he was forced out due to several scandals.
Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s loyalists believe the party should bring him back, considering his electoral mandate from the 2019 general election.
Other front-runners for the post of the next UK Prime Minister are:
- Jeremy Hunt: Former health and foreign minister and new chancellor Jeremy Hunt with bets at 4/1.
- Penny Mordaunt: A former defence secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt with bets at 4/1.
- Keir Starmer: Labour leader Keir Starmer with 8/1 at Sky Bet.
