Who will replace Liz Truss as prime minister after her resignation as Conservative party leader?

Jamie Jones
By Jamie Jones
Published 20th Oct 2022, 14:48 BST
Updated 20th Oct 2022, 14:50 BST
Here’s who is in the running to take over from Liz Truss following her resignation speech outside Downing Street.

Following what many saw as the inevitable resignation of Liz Truss after her short yet chaotic spell as prime minister, attention naturally turns to who might take over at Number 10. Whoever takes on the unenviable position will become the fifth prime minister since Brexit, and third since the 2019 general election.

After announcing her immediate resignation as leader of the Conservative party, Truss confirmed she would remain as prime minister until a successor is found. It is expected the vote to replace her will be limited to MPs only and will be completed next week.

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Rishi Sunak is the current favourite to take over as leader and prime minister while Truss’ predecessor, Boris Johnson, has also not been ruled out of making a comeback. Chancellor of the Exchequer and two time party leader candidate, Jeremy Hunt, has already ruled himself out of standing.

Rishi Sunak

Member of Parliament for Richmond since 2015, Rishi Sunak served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022, and was Chief Secretary to the Treasury before that. Sunak lost out in the previous leadership race to Liz Truss after coming down to the final two, garnering 42.6% of the vote.