Rishi Sunak officially signs up as UK prime minister candidate – Johnson also wants Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz dead

Ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is running for prime minister again. “Britain is a great country, but we are in a serious economic crisis. That’s why I want to lead the Conservative Party and become the next prime minister,” Sunak wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

The 42-year-old is considered the favorite in the race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss and already has significantly more than the needed 100 supporters in the group.

In early September, Sunak lost in the race to succeed Johnson to Truss, who is now leaving office after more than six weeks of unprecedented chaos. Sunak is now credited by many for repeatedly warning during the election campaign about the chaos that Truss has unleashed on the financial markets with her economic policies.

Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson would also throw in his hat again for the office of Prime Minister. Allies have said Johnson is ready and has ample support. The 58-year-old landed back in London with his family on Saturday morning after a short vacation in the Caribbean.

No match between Johnson and Sunak in Premier race

The two prime ministerial favorites, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, have reportedly failed to agree on a common solution in a meeting.

British media speculated that the two could strike a deal to avoid splitting the Tory party. This is how the scenario did the rounds that: Favorite Sunak could offer Johnson a role in a future cabinet. With his resignation from the Johnson cabinet in the summer, the 42-year-old has been instrumental in bringing down the cabinet.

According to the Telegraph, Johnson would have called his party early Sunday morning and asked for support. His campaign team said on Saturday that the 58-year-old had already reached the necessary 100 supporters threshold. However, doubts soon arose as only about half of the people publicly spoke out in favor of Johnson.

Also in the running is Penny Mordaunt, the minister responsible for parliamentary affairs, who officially announced her candidacy on Friday. Nominations can be received until Monday afternoon. It should be clear by next Friday who will lead the government in the future. (yam/sda/dpa)