And then there were 8... with next vote today
RISHI SUNAK, 42
JOB: Ex-Chancellor
ODDS: 6/4
KEY BACKERS: Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps and Gavin Williamson
TAX POLICY: Continue with existing plans to cut the basic rate of income tax by 1p in 2024. Reduce tax burden ‘once we have gripped inflation’. OTHER KEY POLICIES: Will not commit to the ‘arbitrary target’ of spending 2.5 per cent of national income on defence.
WEAKNESS: His departure from the Cabinet helped to bring down Boris Johnson. Faced a backlash over wife Akshata Murty’s ex-non-dom status.
PENNY MORDAUNT, 49
JOB: Trade Minister and former defence secretary
ODDS: 2/1
KEY BACKERS: Andrea Leadsom, David Davis and Bob Seely TAX POLICY: Halve VAT on petrol and diesel from 20 per cent to 10. Scrap planned rise in corporation tax from 19p to 25p.
OTHER KEY POLICIES: ‘Turbo-charge’ levelling up projects and liberating our mayors.
WEAKNESS: Branded a ‘committed warrior for the trans lobby’.
LIZ TRUSS, 46
JOB: Foreign Secretary
ODDS: 3/1
KEY BACKERS: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries and Therese Coffey
TAX POLICY: Reverse the 1.25 percentage point hike in national insurance. Keep corporation tax ‘competitive’. Hold spending review to identify savings to fund tax cuts. OTHER KEY POLICIES: Bring down the ‘size of the state’. Solve the ‘serious problems’ the Northern Ireland Protocol is causing.
WEAKNESS: Backed Remain at the
2016 Brexit referendum.
TOM TUGENDHAT, 49
JOB: Foreign affairs select committee chairman
ODDS: 10/1
KEY BACKERS: Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Damian Green
TAX POLICY: Reverse the national insurance hike. Cut fuel duty by 10p a litre. Change tax incentives to encourage business investment. OTHER KEY POLICIES: Bring in military chiefs to clear the NHS backlog. WEAKNESS: No ministerial experience. Backed Remain.
KEMI BADENOCH, 42
JOB: Ex-equalities minister
ODDS: 10/1
KEY BACKERS: Michael Gove and Neil O’Brien
TAX POLICY: Support lower taxes to ‘boost growth and productivity’. OTHER KEY POLICIES: She has hit out at ‘identity politics’.
WEAKNESS: Limited ministerial experience. Little known outside Westminster circles.
JEREMY HUNT, 55
JOB: Former health secretary ODDS: 40/1 KEY BACKERS: Esther McVey and Andrew Mitchell TAX POLICY: Reduce corporation tax from 19p to 15p. Suspend business rates for five years in struggling communities.
OTHER KEY POLICIES: Cancel the ‘unthinkable’ planned cuts to the Army and raise defence spending to 3 per cent of national income. WEAKNESS: Came second in the last Tory leadership contest – with just a third of the votes.
NADHIM ZAHAWI, 55
JOB: Chancellor ODDS: 50/1 KEY BACKERS: Brandon Lewis and Jesse Norman TAX POLICY: Cut basic rate of income tax by 1p next year, and by a further 1p in 2024. Scrap planned rise in corporation tax. Suspend VAT on fuel and green energy levies for two years. OTHER KEY POLICIES: Continue with reforms he started in his role as education secretary to ‘deliver a great education for every child. WEAKNESS: Facing questions about his financial affairs.
SUELLA BRAVERMAN, 42
JOB: Attorney General
ODDS: 50/1
KEY BACKERS: Steve Baker and Sir John Hayes TAX POLICY: Scrap VAT on energy bills. Introduce ‘rapid and large tax cuts’ to be funded by savings. OTHER KEY POLICIES: Suspend the ‘all-consuming desire to achieve net zero by 2050’ due to the energy crisis. WEAKNESS: Fears she could split the Right-wing vote.