Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor who sparked mutiny from Boris Johnson's Cabinet when he resigned this week, has announced he will stand to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
He said: “Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.”
His move to become Tory leader and with it gain the keys to No 10 Downing Street as prime minister, came as allies of former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt – who was runner-up to Mr Johnson in 2019 – said he was “virtually certain” to stand again this time.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson was continuing to resist demands to stand down as Prime Minister and hand over to his deputy Dominic Raab until a permanent successor is in place.
Mr Sunak released a three-minute video, alongside a #Ready4Rishi hashtag, featuring home movie footage and pictures of his family, who moved to Britain from India.
He said the UK cannot tell itself “comforting fairy tales”.
He said: “Do we confront this moment with honesty, seriousness and determination, or do we tell ourselves comforting fairy tales that might make us feel better in the moment but will leave our children worse off tomorrow?
“Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions. That’s why I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your prime minister.”
From front-runner to a police fine
Mr Sunak had been expected to run and would be considered one of the favourites, although his standing within the party has taken a battering in recent months after the disclosure of his wife's non-domiciled tax status. He is being endorsed by two senior Tories, former chief whip Mark Spencer and Laura Trott, a ministerial aide.
The revelation of his wife Akshata Murty's financial affairs exposed Mr Sunak to accusations of “breathtaking hypocrisy". She owns a $1 billion stake in tech firm Infosys and her father is one of India's richest men.
Mr Sunak was elevated from a junior role to No 11 Downing Street in early 2020, after Sajid Javid's surprise resignation over policy differences with Boris Johnson.
After Covid-19 struck, Mr Sunak stepped to the fore of the government's pandemic response with measures to support workers and businesses.
With a slick social media campaign backed by graphics, Mr Sunak soon had a personal brand and led the rankings for a future leadership bid.
Mr Sunak was elected in 2015 in the seat of Richmond in North Yorkshire, but was recently tarnished by a fine in the Partygate scandal.
He has also been on the front line as the UK economy struggled under the cost-of-living crisis, with the government coming in for criticism for not doing enough to help people's finances. Inflation is sitting at 9.1 per cent and Britain is facing a summer of strikes as disgruntled workers make their feelings known.
The pitch to the party and public
Mr Sunak's announcement video begins with him telling the story of how his grandmother came to Britain "almost a lifetime ago" after boarding a plane "armed with hope for a better life and the love of her family".
The footage goes on to say she took a year to save enough money for her husband and children, including Mr Sunak's mother Usha, who was then 15, to join her and set up life in Southampton.
"My mum studied hard and got the qualifications to become a pharmacist," he says. "She met my dad, an NHS GP, and they settled in Southampton.
“Their story didn’t end there, but that is where my story began.
"Family is everything to me," says Mr Sunak in the video. "My family gave me opportunities they could only dream of. But it was Britain, our country, that gave them and millions like them the chance of a better future.
“I got into politics because I want everyone in this country to have those same opportunities, to be able to give their children a better future.
“Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. And the decisions we make today will decide whether the next generation of British people will also have the chance of a better future.”
The contenders
Mr Sunak becomes the second candidate to publicly declare he wishes to run in the leadership contest, which began when Mr Johnson announced his resignation on the steps of Downing Street on Thursday.
Backbencher Tom Tugendhat announced he also wishes to stand, while The National understands that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has also decided to run. Suella Braverman, Steve Baker and Kemi Badenoch have also expressed their interest.
The full list of candidates is expected to number around 12, with other likely contenders including Liz Truss, Ben Wallace, Nadhim Zahawi and Penny Mordaunt.
The rules and timetable for the contest to replace Mr Johnson are due to be set out next week by a party committee.
Mr Sunak said in his resignation letter it had become clear that his approach to the economy had been too different to Mr Johnson's, as the two had tried to agree on the next steps for the country.
He continued on that theme in his candidacy announcement video.
He told of his experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he launched his bid.
He said: “I want to lead this country in the right direction. I ran the toughest department in government during the toughest times when we faced the nightmare of Covid.
“My values are non-negotiable. Patriotism, fairness, hard work. We’ve had enough of division. Politics at its best is a unifying endeavour, and I have spent my career bringing people together. Because that is the only way to succeed.”
Mr Sunak said he would set out his vision in the “coming days and weeks”.
“I have told you a bit about my story, but I’m running to be our next prime minister because it’s your stories that matter most," he said. "Your futures.”
Brand Rishi - in pictures
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Suits you sir: Unlike those of his famously crumpled former neighbour in No.10, the suits which adorn Rishi Sunak's slender frame are as smooth and sleek as the man himself. British style magazine 'GQ' is so enamoured by the cut of the Mr Sunak's jib, it even published a paean on his ability to make a navy-blue two-piece come to life. Getty Images -
Wrist management: Bar Rolex models, very few people have their wrist snapped as intensively as the UK's chancellor on budget day. With his customary eye for the optics, Mr Sunak has turned this briefcase brandishing occasion into a fashion opportunity and his DADA charm bracelet has garnered the most attention. Getty Images -
Insta influenced: When it comes to social media, Mr Sunak appears to have been influenced more by Kendall Jenner than any of his political contemporaries. His feeds contain a panoply of graphics, slogans, quips and dressed-down pictures, all replete with his trademark signature. The contrast with his predecessor , Philip Hammond, is stark. Mr Hammond was as likely to be snapped in a hoodie and jeans as he was to be pictured rolling round Westminster in a pink Cadillac defenestrating wads of cash Mario Balotelli-style. Photo: Rishi Sunak/Instagram -
Star (Wars) power: Rishi Sunak raised eyebrows when he was photographed with a Star Wars-themed Coke bomb on his desk prior to 2021's spring budget. The elision of the two phenomena in one curio was less surprising to those in the know: the chancellor is both a self-confessed Coca-Cola addict and Star Wars super fan. With his prime ministerial ambitions an open secret, he will be hoping 'the force' will one day propel him from No.11 to No. 10. Photo: HM Treasury -
'HIIT' me baby one more time: There's a reason why Rishi Sunak stays so trim despite his aforementioned penchant for the full fat version of a well-known carbonated beverage. He is a fan of high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts which, when time allows, he performs on his Peloton bike at 6am in the morning. Furthermore, his favourite instructor is Cody Rigsby, a New York dancer who frequently plays Britney Spears while leading his classes. The chancellor will be hoping that his career prospects don't turn 'Toxic' should he ever be implicated in the Westminster 'Partygate' scandal. Photo: HM Treasury
After an extraordinary 48 hours in which dozens of ministers, aides and MPs quit or withdrew their support, Mr Johnson resigned on Thursday as Conservative leader.
In his unrepentant resignation speech in Downing Street, he blamed the “herd” mentality of Parliament for turning against him and said he had tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade colleagues that it would be “eccentric” to change governments at this time.
He offered no contrition for the scandals of “partygate” or his handling of the sexual harassment claims surrounding Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip.
Mr Johnson, 58, said he intended to remain prime minister until a new leader of the Conservative Party is found, a process which could take months.
However, calls are building for him to leave immediately and for an acting leader to head the world's fifth-largest economy.
Polling suggested most Britons favour his rapid exit, as claims surfaced that Mr Johnson was only hanging on to enjoy a wedding party with wife Carrie at his government-funded country retreat Chequers.
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer has threatened a confidence vote in Parliament in an attempt to hasten Mr Johnson's departure, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Johnson hanging around “would cause chaos”.
On Friday, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Johnson should go immediately “as he can't be trusted”.
Newly appointed Education Secretary James Cleverly, the government minister put forward for the morning media round, said on Friday that he did not agree with calls for Mr Johnson to stand down immediately.
The Conservative Party needs to hold a full contest to find the best leader, Mr Cleverly said.
Boris Johnson's colourful time as prime minister - in pictures
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Boris Johnson became UK prime minister in July 2019, left, and resigned three years later in July 2022, right. Here 'The National' looks back at his colourful time as leader of the country. Getty Images / Reuters -
Boris Johnson reads a statement outside 10 Downing Street, formally resigning as Conservative Party leader. PA -
Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson attend the National Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2022. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson addresses the media after surviving a confidence vote in his leadership, in June 2022. PA -
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, announcing that Mr Johnson had survived a confidence vote in his leadership at the Houses of Parliament in June. PA -
Mr Johnson chats with residents in a Diamond Jubilee-themed room as he makes a constituency visit to Sweetcroft care home in Uxbridge, in May 2022. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson reads the findings of the Sue Gray report into gatherings on government premises while Covid-19 restrictions were in place, in his office in No 10, Downing Street in May 2022. Photo: Downing Street -
An image of a gathering in the Cabinet Room in No 10, Downing Street in June 2020 on the prime minister's birthday was released alongside the Sue Gray report. Photo: Cabinet Office -
Boris Johnson with a Mark 3 shoulder launch missile system at Thales weapons manufacturer during a visit to Northern Ireland for talks, in May 2022 in Belfast. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson having a turban placed on his head at Gujarat Bio Technology University, during his two-day trip to India in April. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson after apologising to MPs for the 'partygate' fine he had received, in the House of Commons in April. AFP -
Mr Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walking in central Kyiv, in April. AFP -
Mr Johnson arrives for a media interview at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, in March 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson speaks with officers as he makes a constituency visit to Uxbridge police station in December 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson observes an early morning Merseyside Police raid on a home in Liverpool as part of 'Operation Toxic' to infiltrate county lines drug dealings in December 2021. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson during a visit to Westport Care Home in Stepney Green, ahead of unveiling his long-awaited plan to fix the social care system, in September 2021. Getty Images -
Prince Charles looks on as Boris Johnson attempts to open his umbrella at the National Memorial Arboretum in Stafford, in July 2021. Getty Images -
President of the European Council Charles Michel, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Mr Johnson and Italian PM Mario Draghi pose for the leaders' official photo during the G7 summit in Cornwall, in June 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson poses with his wife Carrie in the garden of No 10, Downing Street following their wedding at Westminster Cathedral, in May 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson visits Hartlepool after the Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson smiles during a televised press conference at No 10, Downing Street in February 2021, as he announces a phased exit from the country's lockdown measures. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson gives a thumbs-up gesture after signing the Brexit trade deal with the EU in No 10, Downing Street, in December 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet for a dinner to try to reach a breakthrough on a post-Brexit trade deal, in December 2020 in Brussels. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson with a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 candidate vaccine, known as AZD1222, at Wockhardt's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, in November 2020, in Wrexham, Wales. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson drills during his visit to Exeter College in September 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson holds crabs caught on the Carvela at Stromness Harbour in July 2020, during a visit to Scotland. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson holds a painting of a ladybird during a visit to The Discovery School in West Malling, in July 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds applaud for key workers outside No 10, Downing Street, in May 2020. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson appears on monitors for a meeting in London. The prime minister chaired the morning update meeting remotely as he was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. Reuters -
Boris Johnson makes a televised address to the nation from inside No 10, Downing Street, with the latest instructions to stay at home to help contain the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020. AFP -
Mr Johnson attends the launch of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit at the Science Museum in London, in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson is greeted by staff at No 10, Downing Street, after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to form a new government in December 2019. PA -
Mr Johnson and his partner Carrie enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory in December 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson drives a digger with the words 'Get Brexit Done' inside the digger bucket through a fake wall emblazoned with the word 'GRIDLOCK', during a general election campaign event in December 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson eats pie on the campaign bus in Derby, on the final day of campaigning before the general election in December 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson takes a turn in goal during the warm up before a girls' football match between Hazel Grove United JFC and Poynton Juniors in December 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson poses with workers as he is given a tour of Wilton Engineering Services as part of an election campaign trail stop in November 2019, in Middlesbrough. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson poses for a photo wearing boxing gloves during a stop on his general election campaign trail in Manchester, in November 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson eats a rock sweet which reads 'Back Boris' during a general election campaign trail stop in Blackpool, in November 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson leads a bull around a pen as he visits Darnford Farm near Aberdeen, Scotland, in September 2019. Getty Images -
Former US president Donald Trump and Mr Johnson arrive for a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in August 2019, in Biarritz, France. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth welcomes Mr Johnson as the newly elected leader of the Conservative party and invites him to become prime minister and form a new government, at Buckingham Palace in July 2019. Getty Images
