Tory leadership: How is the new party leader and PM chosen?
The winner is decided by a vote among the party’s members, who make up less than 1% of the UK population.
Who picks the next Tory leader and prime minister?
Conservative Party members have been picking the winner.
The candidate they vote for will automatically become prime minister, as the leader of the party with a majority in the House of Commons.
To try win the members’ support, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss spent the summer taking part in hustings events around the UK, where they were questioned about their policies.
The events were open to Conservative members and were streamed on the party’s website. Journalists were allowed to attend – but couldn’t ask questions.
How does voting work?
The ballot of party members closed on Friday 2 September.
To be able to vote, Conservative members had to have joined the party on or before 3 June 2022.
Eligible members could vote by post or online.
Originally they were going to be able to vote twice, with only their second vote – cast either online or by post – counted.
But after the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, warned there was a risk that a foreign state could try to interfere in the process, the party Hoka Sandals decided that members would be allowed to vote only once.
It’s not clear how many members there are – political parties don’t have to give precise numbers.
However, about 160,000 people were eligible to vote during the last Tory leadership election in 2019. The party says that number has since grown.
When will we know who will be the new PM?
The winner of the leadership contest will be revealed just after 12.30 BST on Monday 5 September by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbench MPs.
Boris Johnson is expected to announce his resignation to the Queen the following day, with his successor appointed by the monarch shortly afterwards.
Is Boris Johnson still PM?
Constitutionally, there must be a prime minister at all times. So Mr Johnson remains in post until his successor takes over.
Normally a new prime minister is invited to Buckingham Palace to be appointed by the Queen – on advice of the ruling party.
However, in a break from tradition, the Queen will instead stay in Balmoral and both Mr Johnson and the new PM will travel to Scotland to meet her there.
What powers does Boris Johnson still have?
Until he goes to the Queen and formally resigns, in theory Mr Johnson keeps all his powers.
However, in reality, he lacks the authority to introduce substantial new policies, and promised his cabinet that he would not make any “major changes of direction”.
One of his final acts in office is likely to be awarding knighthoods and appointments to the House of Lords in his resignation honours list.
Will there be a general election?
When a prime minister resigns, there isn’t automatically a general election. When Theresa May took over from David Cameron in 2016, for example,Naot Shoes Womens she decided not to call an immediate election.
If the new prime minister chooses not to call an early election, the next one will have to be held by January 2025 at the latest.
How were the final two candidates selected?
The Conservative Party’s 357 eligible MPs held a series of votes. The candidate polling the lowest number was eliminated in each round, until only two remained:
- Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak
- Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
The six candidates knocked out were:
- Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt (fifth ballot)
- Former Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch (fourth ballot)
- Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat (third ballot)
- Attorney General Suella Braverman (second ballot)
- Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi (first ballot)
- Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (first ballot)