UK's new PM to be announced on September 5

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 12, 2022 | Dhupali Das

So far, 11 candidates, including frontrunners such as British Indian former minister Rishi Sunak...

Digital Desk: The new leader of the UK's ruling Conservative Party, who will succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, will be named on September 5, the committee in charge of Tory leadership elections stated on Monday.

The 1922 Committee, made up of Conservative backbenchers, established the timing and regulations of the elections, which will be officially opened and closed for nominations on Tuesday.

So far, 11 candidates, including frontrunners such as British Indian former minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, have expressed their intention to contest.

Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, said, "We are quite determined to get this done as smoothly, cleanly, and quickly as possible."

"On September 5, we should definitely have reached a decision and named a new party head. The most important thing is that we've reached this point and have a very clear plan for moving forward and answering the leadership challenge," he added. 

To qualify for the ballot, a Conservative Member of Parliament must receive the support of at least 20 other Conservative MPs, according to new rules approved by the committee during a crucial meeting earlier on Monday. These candidates will require at least 30 votes or just under 10% of Tory MPs to advance to the next round.

The first ballot will take place on Wednesday, followed by the second ballot on Thursday, when it is anticipated that the number will have been further reduced. If the contest to choose the last two candidates is not resolved by the end of this week, further ballots will be cast the following week.

Many of the Conservative Party's 358 MPs have yet to express their support, with the shortlist expected to become clearer as the week unfolds.

After the final two contenders have been chosen, they will have hustings across the UK to campaign for the almost 200,000 Tory party members who will cast their votes for the winner using a one-member, one-vote system. The election winner will be crowned the new leader of the Conservative Party and UK Prime Minister.