BOOKIES' favourite Ben Wallace has pulled out of the race to become the next PM – as Rishi Sunak reportedly urges Sajid Javid to ditch his campaign.
Defence Secretary Mr Wallace, 52, said this afternoon that after "careful consideration" he was ruling himself out of replacing Boris Johnson.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Wallace said his priorities lay with keeping the country safe amidst Mad Vlad's invasion of Ukraine.
He said: "After careful consideration and discussing with colleagues and family, I have taken the decision not to enter the contest for leadership of the Conservative Party.
"I am very grateful to all my parliamentary colleagues and wider members who have pledged support.
"It has not been an easy choice to make, but my focus is on my current job and keeping this great country safe.
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"I wish the very best of luck to all candidates and hope we swiftly return to focusing on the issues that we are all elected to address."
Mr Wallace is the first to fold in the race to become leader of the Conservative Party and the next PM when Mr Johnson leaves in the autumn.
With the politician gone, key figures are lining up their campaigns to get the keys to Number 10.
Hot favourite is former chancellor Rishi Sunak.
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It's understood the his allies have already contacted opponent Mr Javid's friends to warn he doesn't have the support to become PM.
They said the men are competing for the same voters – and Mr Javid must instead step down his bid and back Mr Sunak, according to The Times.
Mr Sunak was the first big beast to go public with his bid to become leader as 19 Tories — including a host of no-marks — weigh up tilts at the top job.
Of that number, more than 15 are expected to take a punt.
However, the race for No10 is expected to be scaled back to just four candidates by next week.
WALLACE BACKS OUT
The party’s ruling backbench 1922 Committee will meet on Monday to determine the length of the contest and raise the bar to avoid no-hopers slowing it down.
It is expected that candidates will have to secure the names of 20 colleagues to get on the ballot.
Attorney General Suella Braverman became the first to announce her leadership bid during an interview on ITV's Peston.
Mr Sunak was next. Posting a slick video on Twitter, he said: "I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.
"Let's restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the economy."
BIG BEASTS BRACE FOR BATTLE
Moderate Tom Tugendhat, another declared candidate, told The Sun he would slash VAT and business tax, plus tariffs on imported food and clothes.
Liz Truss, who also plans to run, told colleagues she is the only contender who can keep the Boris legacy going.
Boris assassin Mr Javid has not yet announced his candidacy, although it's expected both he and current Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi are poised to do so in the coming days.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is considering an outsider bid, with Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt an activists’ fave.
Allies say former Health Secretary and 2019 runner up Jeremy Hunt was “certain to run” and friends of ultra-Boris loyalist Nadine Dorries said she was considering running to “keep the BoJo flame alive”.
I have taken the decision not to enter the contest… It has not been an easy choice to make, but my focus is on my current job and keeping this great country safe
Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has announced her candidacy, and appears to be backing lower taxes and a "limited Government focused on the essentials".
Ladbrokes says Braverman is the "one to watch", with her odds slashed from 100/1 at the start of the week to just 20/1 this morning.
Allies of Priti Patel said she was seriously considering running and compared her to Margaret Thatcher.
Backbencher John Baron and fellow anonymous Tory Rehman Chishti are weighing up their chances, while even veteran David Davis was said to be ringing round to see if he can get any support.
Johnson fired the starting gun on the race on Thursday when he reluctantly quit.
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In a defiant speech, he described his colleagues’ decision to oust him as “eccentric” and the result of “herd instinct”.
He is currently running the country with a 'zombie cabinet', and yesterday appointed loyalist Peter Bone as deputy leader of the House of Commons.
Who’s planning to run?
You might even have heard of some of them…
- Rishi Sunak
- Sajid Javid
- Nadhim Zahawi
- Liz Truss
- Grant Shapps
- Priti Patel
- Tom Tugendhat
- Penny Mordaunt
- Suella Braverman
- Jeremy Hunt
- Kemi Badenoch
- Nadine Dorries
- David Davis
- Rehman Chishti
- Bill Wiggin
- John Baron
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