JOIN USWith Boris Johnson set to quit, who could replace him?
Boris Johnson was due to resign as Britain's prime minister on Thursday, bringing an end to a turbulent two and half years in office and triggering a search for a new leader.
Below is a summary of some of those who could be in the frame to replace him. While several possible successors have been suggested, there is no clear favourite.
Rishi Sunak:
Rishi Sunak, the UK's first Hindu chancellor of the exchequer, who quit on Tuesday, was until recently the bookmakers' favourite.
But his prospects were dented by questions over his private wealth and family's tax arrangements.
His resignation has seen him return as one of the bookies' frontrunners for the top job.
Sunak, 42, has a high profile on social media, and won plaudits for shoring up the economy during the pandemic. But his refusal initially to authorise more support over a surging cost-of-living crisis has hurt his popularity.
Jeremy Hunt:
Former foreign and health secretary Jeremy Hunt, 55, lost to Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest, when he branded himself as the "serious" alternative.
Hunt sent a thinly veiled campaign message for a new leadership bid last month, arguing that under Johnson "we are no longer trusted by the electorate" and "we are set to lose the next general election".
But the fluent Japanese speaker lacks Johnson's charisma. His pre-pandemic record as health secretary was recently savaged by a Johnson ally.
Liz Truss:
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, 46, is popular among Conservative party members, liked for her outspokenness and willingness to go on the political attack.
But that has also stoked questions about her judgement, for instance when in February she encouraged Britons to fight in Ukraine. Critics say her leadership posturing is too overt.
When she headed the Department for International Trade, some MPs dubbed it the "Department for Instagramming Truss" because of her prolific output on the social media site.
Sajid Javid:
Sajid Javid, who also quit as health secretary on Tuesday, had previously resigned as finance minister in 2020.
The 52 year old is the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver who went on to become a high-flying banker.
Like Sunak, he also faces questions about his personal wealth and tax affairs.
Ben Wallace:
Defence secretary Ben Wallace, 52, has narrowly topped some recent polls of Tory grassroots' preferred next leader due to his role in the Ukraine crisis.
The former army officer and Johnson ally has downplayed wanting to lead the party but is seen as a straight-talking and competent.
Nadhim Zahawi:
Newly appointed as finance minister Nadhim Zahawi, 55, was praised for overseeing Britain's pandemic vaccines rollout.
Before that he was education secretary.
Zahawi is a former refugee from Iraq who came to Britain as a child speaking no English. Before entering politics, he co-founded the prominent polling company YouGov.
But his private wealth has also drawn adverse attention, including when he claimed parliamentary expenses for heating his horse stables.
Tom Tugendhat:
Former army officer Tom Tugendhat, 49, is a prominent backbencher who chairs parliament's influential Foreign Affairs Committee.
Tugendhat has indicated he will stand in any leadership contest but there is no love lost between him and Johnson loyalists.
A hawk on China, he has been critical of the government's handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Penny Mordaunt:
Penny Mordaunt, 49, is the first woman to have been UK defence secretary and is currently a junior trade minister.
The Royal navy reservist is seen as likely to run but considered a long shot.
A strong Brexit supporter and key figure in the 2016 "Leave" campaign, she has been tipped as a potential unity candidate who could draw support from the Conservative party's warring factions.
Currently a junior trade minister, Mordaunt called the lockdown-breaking parties in government "shameful". She had previously expressed loyalty to Johnson.
Dominic Raab:
Deputy prime minister and justice secretary Dominic Raab, 48, led the country when Johnson was in intensive care in hospital with Covid-19 in 2020.
The former lawyer and karate black belt is seen as a reliable ally.
But his move to justice from the post of foreign secretary was seen as a demotion after he initially failed to cut short a holiday as the Afghan capital Kabul fell to the Taliban.
Suella Braverman:
A Brexit-backing Attorney General, Suella Braverman has indicated she will run for the leadership. She was heavily criticised by lawyers during her tenure after the government sought to break international law over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland.
(With inputs from Reuters)