At 11:30 GMT the British Conservative Party’s leadership contest results will be published
The winner of the race to replace Boris Johnson as the next leader of the ruling Conservative Party – and UK’s new prime minister – will be named on Monday. Ex-finance minister Rishi Sonak and Liz Truss are the two main contenders.
According to recent polls, Britain’s top diplomat enjoys overwhelming support among Tory members.
Johnson is scheduled to give a farewell address and announce his resignation Tuesday to the Queen. She will then officially appoint Truss or Sunak his successor. Johnson will continue to be in power until the transfer of power is completed.
Johnson was the party’s leader in a winnable 2019 election. The Conservative leader was also responsible for leading Britain out of Europe. Johnson resigned on July 7. More than 50 parliamentarians had resigned from Johnson’s government within 48 hours. It followed a series of high-profile scandals, including Johnson hiring as his deputy chief whip a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct, and an internal inquiry earlier this year that found that cabinet officials – and the PM himself – had routinely broken their own Covid-19 social distancing rules.
But while only 25% of the public have a favorable opinion of him, according to a YouGov survey, Johnson reportedly enjoys huge popularity overseas – in Ukraine. An opinion poll conducted in June found that Johnson was the most popular foreign leader, with a 91% approval rating. Only three points were scored by Vladimir Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.
He is a staunch supporter of Kiev and was the first Western leader to visit Ukraine following the launch by Moscow of its military operation late February. His government has committed about £2.3 billion ($2.8 billion) in military assistance to Kiev in addition to training its troops and sanctioning Russia.
He said that Russia was also responsible for the UK’s current cost-of-living crisis. “we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin” – despite inflation having been on the rise long before February.
But will London’s stance on Russia and Ukraine change with a new occupant in 10 Downing Street?
Truss has made it clear that she’s going to stick to Johnson’s policies. “The flame of freedom in Ukraine [will continue] to burn bright”She has made a vow to become the next prime minister if elected. “Under my leadership, President Zelensky will have no greater ally,”She insisted at 47 years old
Putin was accused of being the PM candidate “barbarism,” claiming she wouldn’t allow him to win in Ukraine. Truss claims that Kiev will be her first overseas destination in her new job.
Sunak may be Truss’ rival now, but the two appear to see eye to eye when it comes to Russia.
Putin was recently expelled from the G20 summit at Indonesia in November because of what he called “unacceptable behavior.” “abhorrent behavior.”Russian President “doesn’t have a seat at the table unless and until he stops his illegal war in Ukraine,”Sunak stated.
He also said that he would “redouble… efforts and reinforce our policy of total support for Ukraine”If he is appointed to the British Government.
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