Theresa May has announced she will be stepping down as Conservative leader on June 7, triggering a party contest to choose the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Here's a look at some of her party members who are contenders:
Boris Johnson, 54.
A polarising figure within ruling Conservative party who is envied by colleagues and rivals for his level of public recognition but seen as a political opportunist who has repeatedly failed to master his political and minister briefs. The Brexit-supporting Mr Johnson quit as foreign secretary over Mrs May’s Brexit strategy and is favourite to take over her role. His calamitous campaign to become leader in 2016 failed after Justice Secretary Michael Gove, his running mate in a leadership ‘dream team’, quit to make his own (failed) run for the leadership. “Of course I’m going to go for it,” he said last week in response to a question about his plans to run.
A very dignified statement from @theresa_may. Thank you for your stoical service to our country and the Conservative Party. It is now time to follow her urgings: to come together and deliver Brexit.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 24, 2019
Sajid Javid, 49.
The Home Secretary and the most prominent Muslim in British political life gave a speech early this week announcing an overhaul of treason laws in what was seen as a pitch for the top job. The son of a bus driver, Mr Javid has often spoken of his working-class roots and told of how his protective upbringing by Pakistani immigrant parents prevented him from being tempted into crime as a boy. He moved into politics after a career in finance and became Home Secretary in 2018 after his predecessor was forced to quit over an immigration scandal.
Nobody could have worked harder or had a greater sense of public duty than the Prime Minister. Her dedication in taking our country forward has been monumental. She has served her country with fortitude and we are grateful to her for it.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) May 24, 2019
Andrea Leadsom, 56.
Resigned as leader of the House Commons just this week. The former banker was the closest challenger to Theresa May during the 2016 leadership election. The ardently pro-Brexiteer with a background in finance pulled out of the contest after it became clear that she did not have the numbers to defeat Mrs May in a final vote. Her campaign was tarnished after she hinted that having children meant she was more suitable than Mrs May to become prime minister. She became environment secretary after Mrs May became prime minister.
It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 22, 2019
Jeremy Hunt, 52.
Mr Hunt took over the foreign affairs brief from Boris Johnson after a long and controversial spell as a reformist health secretary. Following the often-chaotic tenure of Mr Johnson, he has been a steadier presence as the UK’s chief diplomat. He has been a staunch defender of the campaign to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian national detained in Tehran. This week announced an international envoy for human rights in a bid to shape his reputation as a reformer.
I want to pay tribute to the PM today. Delivering Brexit was always going to be a huge task, but one she met every day with courage & resolve. NHS will have an extra £20bn thanks to her support, and she leaves the country safer and more secure. A true public servant.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) May 24, 2019
Matt Hancock, 40.
At 40, Mr Hancock, the health secretary, is the youngest of the potential challengers and also the rank outsider. He is known as a keen user of social media and as culture secretary became the first MP to launch his own smartphone app. Has championed the introduction of a digital revolution in the health service. Mr Hancock is closed to modernising wing once led by David Cameron and George Osborne.
Don't forget that only one party can deliver Brexit.#VoteConservative today so we can finally move forward #EUElections2019
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) May 23, 2019
Rory Stewart, 46.
The former serviceman is one of the more interesting MPs with a back story that has included a spell as a tutor to royal princes William and Harry, as an administrator in Iraq and running a development charity. He has only just been promoted to the Cabinet after serving as prisons minister and making a bold claim to quit if he failed to improve some of the worst jails in the country. He was given a new role as international development secretary before the time elapsed on his pledge. He became the first cabinet minister to publicly announce that he planned to run for the top job.
My Afghanistan documentary is up on @NetflixUK #pleasewatchbeforecallingmeacareerpolitician #TBT https://t.co/7r7Kxytbh5
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) May 23, 2019
Dominic Raab, 45.
Trained solicitor who worked in the British Foreign Office before entering politics. A Brexit hardliner he was appointed by Mrs May to lead the department in charge of withdrawal. However the deal negotiated with Brussels, nominally by him, proved unacceptable and he resigned at the end of 2018. Mr Raab has since been running a campaign for the top job, offering a vision of a low-tax, lightly regulated economy in a series of speeches in recent months.
I listened carefully to the PM’s speech on the govt’s revised terms of Brexit. I cannot support legislation that would be the vehicle for a second referendum or Customs Union. Either option would frustrate rather than deliver Brexit - and break our clear manifesto promises.
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) May 21, 2019