From ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s scandals to his resignation, Queen Elizabeth II’s demise, Liz Truss’ victory and resignation as British Prime Minister, to now electing the country’s third Prime Minister in a year, 2022 will be highlighted as one of the most turbulent years in UK’s history. Truss announced her resignation on October 20, following a bruising period in which her radical economic plan was almost entirely reversed due to financial market panic and a sharp drop in the Conservative Party’s already low polling standing.

Liz Truss delivering the resignation speech on Oct 20 (Photo Credit – Associated Press)

Despite easily winning an internal Conservative Party leadership race to replace her predecessor, Boris Johnson, who announced his resignation in July after only three years in office, the British prime minister served only six tumultuous weeks in office. Replacing Truss as Conservative Party leader is likely to be an internal party move.

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This time, there will be a streamlined procedure, and candidates will only be able to submit their names if they have nominations from 100 Conservative members of Parliament. The final decision will be made through an online vote among party members by October 28. So, who is capable of leading the Conservatives into the upcoming general election in 2025 and mending the schisms within Britain’s largest right-wing party, let alone fixing the nation’s failing economy? Let’s take a look at the possible contenders:

1. Rishi Sunak

(Photo Credit – Associated Press)

The 42-year-old Sunak has the reputation of a serious politician. He served as Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer during Johnson’s administration. It is worth mentioning here that Sunak dismissed Truss’ proposed economic reforms as “fairy tale” economics during the previous leadership race. His characterization has been validated by the controversy surrounding their implementation.

2. Penny Mordaunt

(Photo Credit – Associated Press)

Mordaunt, the Conservative Party’s leader, is another option favoured by centrist Conservative Party members. This week, Mordaunt, 49, attracted attention after it appeared that Truss was unable to defend the government’s U-turns in Parliament. Some people think Mordaunt and Sunak might work together. Mordaunt, who served as the nation’s first female defence secretary for a brief period of time, was also a junior trade minister and is regarded as having greater support from the party’s grassroots.

3. Boris Johnson

(Photo Credit – Associated Press)

Yes, you read it right. Although Johnson’s final day in office was only 44 days ago, there are persistent rumours in the British media that he might make a comeback. It has an odd logic to it. Despite the scandals that brought him down, polls show that the 58-year-old is still popular among Conservative Party members. Furthermore, despite numerous scandals, many people remember his commanding victory in the 2019 general election. Johnson has not yet responded. He is said to be on vacation in the Caribbean.

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4. Ben Wallace

(Photo Credit – Associated Press)

Many Conservative Party members, as well as non-supporters, admire the British defence secretary for his unwavering stance during the Ukraine conflict. Wallace, 52, was at work amid the chaos on October 20, telling the House of Commons that a Russian fighter jet fired a missile near a British plane last month in international airspace over the Black Sea.

He has been a member of Parliament since 2005 and has served in the military, including active service during the Northern Ireland Troubles. He has largely stayed out of the Conservative Party’s internecine warfare. There is a catch though; Wallace withdrew from the race in the early rounds of the previous election and later endorsed Truss.