Lancashire MP Ben Wallace tipped to be next Prime Minister
Boris Johnson agreed to step down from the role this morning (7th July)
Last updated 7th Jul 2022
The latest YouGov poll suggests the current Defence Secretary and MP for Wyre and Preston North, Ben Wallace, is the favourite in the running to take over as Prime Minsiter.
Boris Johnson has agreed to step down as PM after the resignations of nearly 60 members of his government.
Ben Wallace wasn't among the MPs to resign though - he tweeted this morning to say that he had an "obligation to keep this country safe, no matter who is PM.
Well he's now the favourite among Conservative Party members to be their next leader.
Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Michael Gove are also among the favourites.
The Defence Secretary has won admirers in Westminster for his straight-talking and straightforward approach, particularly among Tory MPs who pressed for the UK to increase its defence spending, although cuts to the size of the Army remain a cause for concern.
Mr Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, remains a key voice in the UK's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and this increased exposure could assist any leadership bid.
He has consistently supported Mr Johnson, but has pressed the case for increased defence spending.
Here's who else is tipped for the job...
Scroll down for more local reaction to Boris Johnson's resignation.
Liz Truss - Winner
The Foreign Secretary has made little secret of her leadership ambitions, with a series of high-profile interventions and photo opportunities in which she appeared to be channelling late PM Margaret Thatcher.
Her hard line on Ukraine, insisting Russian forces must be driven from the country, and threats to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU, play well with sections of the party.
Away from politics, Ms Truss's flair for social media has seen her offer an insight into life outside of Westminster by updating her Instagram account with pictures of her relaxing at the beach, or behind the scenes at official events, though her passions combined to bizarre effect in 2014 when her improbably enthusiastic speech about opening pork markets in Beijing went viral.
Rishi Sunak - Defeated in the final two
The former Chancellor's rise from relative obscurity to household name came as he turned on the spending taps to protect jobs through the furlough scheme when the coronavirus pandemic struck.
But his stock took a tumble more recently following disclosures that his wife had non-dom status for tax purposes, and that he was too slow to respond to the cost-of-living crisis
Penny Mordaunt - Eliminated
Ms Mordaunt made waves in 2019 as the UK's first female defence secretary before being fired by Mr Johnson shortly after becoming PM.
Ms Mordaunt has many strings to her bow - she is a Royal Navy reservist, the current trade minister and a former reality television contestant, having appeared on the Tom Daley-fronted diving show Splash.
She played a prominent role in the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and has previously reportedly enjoyed the backing of Dame Andrea Leadsom among others.
Kemi Badenoch - Eliminated
Former equalities minister and MP for Saffron Walden Kemi Badenoch threw her hat into the ring with a plan for a smaller state and a government "focused on the essentials".
Ms Badenoch said she will deliver tax cuts "to boost growth and productivity and accompanied by tight spending discipline". Ms Badenoch may be considered an outsider for the leadership given the Tory grandees already in the running, but her profile was boosted by an endorsement from Michael Gove on Sunday.
Tom Tugendhat - Eliminated
Eliminated. The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat became the first contender to officially throw his hat in the ring, saying he was putting together a "broad coalition" offering a "clean start".
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the former soldier said: "I have served before – in the military, and now in Parliament. Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister."
Suella Braverman - Eliminated
Attorney General Suella Braverman was one of the first to openly say that she would stand in a leadership contest as she called for the Prime Minister to quit.
Jeremy Hunt - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former foreign secretary and ex-health secretary has been a persistent backbench critic of Mr Johnson and had called on the Prime Minister to quit.
Mr Hunt is making a fresh bid for the leadership, having been runner-up to Mr Johnson in 2019.
Nadhim Zahawi - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former education secretary is regarded by some as a "safe pair of hands" if other candidates prove too divisive
Iraqi-born Mr Zahawi was a successful businessman and came to wider prominence as vaccines minister during the pandemic where he was credited with playing a key part in the successful rollout of the jab.
Sajid Javid - Withdrawn
Sajid Javid pulled out of the race to succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader moments before the official nominations were revealed. In a statement, the former health secretary said: "Serving in Government is a true privilege. It has been just seven days since I took the difficult decision to resign from the most important job I have ever had, as health secretary during a pandemic.
"Since then, I have set out the values and policies I think are right for the future of our great country. I believe the party must now look outwards, not inwards, if we are to win again.
"There is an abundance of both ideas and talent in our party. One of the candidates will be given the honour of becoming Prime Minister.
Rehman Chishti - Withdrawn
The newly appointed Foreign Office minister announced his bid for the top job via a Facebook post but withdrew from the race tweeting "I will not be taking my campaign any further for the leadership of our party as I have not been able to secure the necessary parliamentary backing".
Grant Shapps - Withdrawn from contest
The Transport Secretary had put himself forward as a leadership candidate, but withdrew from the contest after it was announced that candidates would need 20 MPs to back their nomination.
In a tweet, he said he was now supporting former chancellor Rishi Sunak: "Amongst a field of brilliant candidates, I've spoken to Rishi Sunak who I believe has the competence and experience to lead this country."
Steve Baker - Not running
Prominent Brexiteer and former minister Steve Baker, a senior Tory backbencher had said he was considering running for the position, but eventually dropped out of the leadership race and announced he will support Suella Braverman.
Ben Wallace - Not running
The Defence Secretary was an early favourite for the leadership but ruled himself out on Saturday.
MPs across Lancashire have been voicing their growing concerns with the Prime Minister over the past 24 hours
Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe handed in her resignation yesterday saying she's "bitterly disappointed" with what she's seen over the last 2 weeks.
Burnley Conservative MP Antony Higginbotham, also withdrew his support from Boris Johnson last night.
He said: “I will always be grateful to the Prime Minister for what he has achieved for our country, and what he has worked with me to achieve for Burnley and Padiham. His leadership has seen us deliver under the most difficult of circumstances.
“But given the sequence of events and the inability of the government to function properly during these past few weeks, the time was right for him to go."
Paul Maynard - Blackpool North and Clevelys MP - thanks God on Twitter this morning, adding that he wrote a letter of no confidence all the way back in January this year.
Ribble Valley Tory MP and House of Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans said: “I am grateful to Boris Johnson for his service as Prime Minister.
“I campaigned for Brexit and supported his leadership before becoming deputy speaker.
“His legacy will speak for itself.
“I will liaise with my party members ay each stage of the leadership campaign but I will not publicly making know which candidate I will be supporting.
“I look forward to fighting the next election under the new leadership.”
Andrew Stevenson also expressed his support. The MP for Pendle said he has, "loyally supported our last 3 Prime Ministers and our party in delivering for our country.
"Now that Boris Johnson has decided to resign we must ensure a smooth transition so we may continue to do so."
Fylde's Mark Menzies echoed the sentiment in his statement:
"This morning's announcement that the Prime Minister intends to resign will hopefully bring much needed stability after what has been a very turbulent time.
"What is important now, for the country and for the people of Fylde, is a smooth transition. We need to ensure the wheels of Government continue to turn while a new leader is chosen.
"The Prime Minister was elected at a time when Parliament was gridlocked and unable to resolve the issue of the day, Brexit. He delivered where others could not.
"But we are now in a very different world with new priorities and fresh challenges. It is time for new leadership and new ideas and I welcome the change which begins today."