The Race for Tory Leader: A 16-Way Brawl Begins As Boris Johnson’s grip on power crumbles, the race to replace him as Conservative Party leader is heating up, with 16 candidates already throwing their hats into the ring. Tom Newton Dunn, political editor of The Times, reports that the contest has descended into a “16-way brawl” as rivals jostle for position. Early Frontrunners Four candidates have emerged as early frontrunners: * Rishi Sunak: The former Chancellor is seen as the favorite due to his experience and popularity with voters. * Liz Truss: The Foreign Secretary has gained momentum with her tough stance on Russia and her pledge to cut taxes. * Penny Mordaunt: The former Defense Secretary has surprised many with her strong performances in television debates. * Nadhim Zahawi: The current Chancellor has used his position to make populist spending announcements, boosting his profile. Outsiders with a Chance Other candidates with a shot at success include: * Tom Tugendhat: A former Army officer with a reputation for integrity and competence. * Jeremy Hunt: The former Health Secretary is considered a safe pair of hands with experience in government. * Sajid Javid: Another former Chancellor who has positioned himself as an insurgent candidate. Dark Horses Several less well-known candidates are also hoping to make an impact: * Kemi Badenoch: A junior minister with a strong following among Conservative members. * Rehman Chishti: A former junior minister who has been outspoken on social issues. * Suella Braverman: Another former junior minister who has taken a hardline stance on immigration. * Mark Harper: A former Chief Whip who has been critical of Johnson’s leadership. The Process The race will take place over several rounds of voting. Conservative MPs will narrow down the field to two candidates, who will then face a vote by party members. The winner is expected to be announced on September 5th. High Stakes The stakes are high for both the Conservative Party and the country. The new leader will inherit a government and an economy in crisis. They will also face the challenge of uniting a party that has been deeply divided by Johnson’s tenure. As the race unfolds, expect plenty of jostling, backstabbing, and intrigue. The 16-way brawl is set to be one for the ages.Tory Leadership Race: A Blood-Fest on the HorizonTory Leadership Race: A Blood-Fest on the Horizon The Conservative Party is preparing for a tumultuous leadership contest after the upcoming general election, with a record number of contenders vying for the top job. The Contenders A staggering 16 Tory MPs are considering or actively planning a run for leader, including: * Kemi Badenoch (frontrunner) * Suella Braverman * Dame Priti Patel * Tom Tugendhat (One Nation candidate) * Gillian Keegan * Victoria Atkins * Robert Jenrick (dark horse) The Rift: To Farage or Not to Farage A key fault line within the party is emerging over the potential alliance with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. * Right-wingers support a merger to unite the far-right vote. * Moderates adamantly oppose it, fearing a split in the Conservative Party. Foreign Prime Minister: Cameron’s Resurgence Former Prime Minister David Cameron is reportedly playing a significant role in foreign and security policy, drawing comparisons to a “Foreign Prime Minister.” Labor’s Electoral Edge In addition to leading in the polls, Labor is also winning the battle of the election bus snacks. Their well-stocked snack drawer and onboard booze have delighted journalists on the campaign trail. Conclusion The Conservative Party faces an uncertain future as it braces for a bitter leadership race and a possible split over the Farage alliance. Meanwhile, Labor continues to gain momentum, boasting both political and culinary advantages.The race for Tory leader has begun already — and it’s a 16-way brawl TOM NEWTON DUNN BORIS Johnson is not even in No 10 yet and the race to be his successor has already begun. No fewer than 16 senior Tories have been tipped for the top job, with Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab at the head of the queue. The contest is wide open, with no clear frontrunner. Johnson’s victory in the Conservative leadership race last month was unexpected, and it is entirely possible that the next Tory leader will also come from left-field. Here are the 16 contenders who could be in the running to be the next Prime Minister: * Sajid Javid: The Home Secretary is a former Chancellor and is seen as a safe pair of hands. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but his lack of charisma could count against him. * Jeremy Hunt: The Foreign Secretary is a former Health Secretary and is seen as a competent and experienced politician. He is also popular with the Conservative membership, but he is not seen as a particularly exciting choice. * Michael Gove: The Environment Secretary is a former Education Secretary and is seen as a clever and ambitious politician. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but he is also seen as a bit of a maverick. * Dominic Raab: The Brexit Secretary is a former lawyer and is seen as a tough negotiator. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but he is also seen as a bit of a loose cannon. * Penny Mordaunt: The Defence Secretary is a former International Development Secretary and is seen as a rising star in the Conservative Party. She is popular with the Conservative membership, but she is also seen as a bit of a lightweight. * Matt Hancock: The Health Secretary is a former Culture Secretary and is seen as a competent and experienced politician. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but he is not seen as a particularly charismatic choice. * Liz Truss: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a former Justice Secretary and is seen as a competent and experienced politician. She is popular with the Conservative membership, but she is not seen as a particularly exciting choice. * Andrea Leadsom: The Leader of the House of Commons is a former Environment Secretary and is seen as a competent and experienced politician. She is popular with the Conservative membership, but she is not seen as a particularly charismatic choice. * Esther McVey: The former Work and Pensions Secretary is seen as a right-wing candidate and is popular with the Conservative membership. However, she is not seen as a particularly experienced politician. * Priti Patel: The former International Development Secretary is seen as a right-wing candidate and is popular with the Conservative membership. However, she is not seen as a particularly experienced politician. * Dominic Cummings: The Prime Minister’s chief adviser is not an elected politician, but he is seen as a powerful figure behind the scenes. He is unpopular with the Conservative membership, but he could play a key role in the next leadership contest. * Robert Jenrick: The Housing Secretary is a former Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and is seen as a rising star in the Conservative Party. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but he is not seen as a particularly experienced politician. * Gavin Williamson: The Education Secretary is a former Defence Secretary and is seen as a competent and experienced politician. He is popular with the Conservative membership, but he is not seen as a particularly charismatic choice. * Theresa May: The former Prime Minister is not seen as a likely contender for the leadership, but she could make a comeback if the contest is wide open. She is unpopular with the Conservative membership, but she is seen as a competent and experienced politician. * David Cameron: The former Prime Minister is not seen as a likely contender for the leadership, but he could make a comeback if the contest is wide open. He is unpopular with the Conservative membership, but he is seen as a competent and experienced politician.