Who will succeed Rishi Sunak? | UK Politics | New Statesman

Rishi Sunak’s successor depends on the “scale of defeat”, says Rachel Wearmouth.

Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordant, Suella Braverman: senior Conservatives who, insiders believe, could succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative party.

Selection of the next Tory leader “could go many different ways”, says Rachel Wearmouth, deputy political editor of the New Statesman.

Determining factors will include how a potential Labour victory plays out, the scale of the Conservative defeat, and the public’s sentiment towards Conservative policies.

Anoosh Chakelian, host of the New Statesman podcast, Zoë Grünewald, political reporter for the New Statesman, and Rachel Wearmouth, deputy political editor of the New Statesman, answer your questions.

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[jordanwood]

I hope the Tories elect Kemi or Cruella as leader. That should finish off their party for a decade.

[stevebartley]

Names that strike fear in anyone who cherishes democracy.

[rustynail]

Whoever does won't be any better. The tories are rotten to the core.

[lizfuller]

They are doomed, I am thrilled to say, cannot stand any of them.

[edc]

A normal human being would be a good idea, so that rules out most of the current Parliamentary Tory Party.

[alankenny]

It wasn't a "huge personality" who won in 2019, it was a one-issue election. Even Truss could have won that one.

[williamthomson]

Suella Braverman couldn't even tell a lie with a straight face without grinning.

[normhanson]

The Tories are toast, those candidates are terrible.

[Snick]

This particular triple-commentariat works exceptionally well. Instead of interrupting or talking over each other, you all seem to have caught the rhythm of your trialogue and that brings both clarity and efficiency to viewers. Well played!

[Brookman]

The Tories need kicking into the long grass for a very very long time at the next election. 🙏

[BBoaBrim]

My cat has offered his services as the next Tory leader.

[Christopher_Culpepper]

I could see Penny Mourdant as a Tory Leader of the Opposition, like William Hague. A leader who excels in opposition, but would not be a great PM.

[danjames]

I wondered how long it would be before this question would become mainstream. I reckon we've got time for at least a couple of new P.M.'s before the hext election.

[Badger-wu]

NO to Cleverly or Braverman, but I'm not Tory . After 13yrs they are all rotten .

[Steviebond]

Well, it'll depend on who will remain after the next GE. Mordaunt is one of them, but I have a sneaky feeling that she's gonna lose her seat the same way Portillo lost his in 1997, and the right wing media will be in shock over it.

[elihouse]

I very much doubt that many of them will be left after the election. Penny Mordaunt will definitely lose Portsmouth North. It's a classic swing seat and her majority although quite large can easily be overturned.

[chrisbates]

I think the question is how many conservative parties will there be?

[markherzog]

Bring on any Tory leader that wants to stand as a culture warrior…..that will condemn the Conservatives t😮o at least 3 terms in opposition……

[wulla]

It all depends whether the Tories actually want to win again in future, or whether they’d rather wither into obscurity whilst retaining their cherished beliefs. The core problem is that the Tory electorate (MPs and party members) is now wildly out of step with the country as a whole

[MichaelSmith-nsow]

Penny Mordants going to be next Conservative party leader in opposition.