8 in fray to replace May as British PM

London: At least eight candidates, including hard Brexiteer Boris Johnson, have joined the fray to battle it out to take over the reins from British Prime Minister Theresa May as the UK’s ruling Conservative Party leadership contest gets underway. While Johnson, the former foreign secretary, is seen as the frontrunner to succeed May, the contest still remains wide open to at least seven other.

London, May 26: At least eight candidates, including hard Brexiteer Boris Johnson, have joined the fray to battle it out to take over the reins from British Prime Minister Theresa May as the UK’s ruling Conservative Party leadership contest gets underway.

While Johnson, the former foreign secretary, is seen as the frontrunner to succeed May, the contest still remains wide open to at least seven other contenders.

May had announced her resignation earlier this week and is set to formally step down as Tory leader and PM on June 7, after a three-day state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump.

The formal segment of the party leadership contest will then kick off on June 10, but prospective candidates have already begun laying out their bids for the top job.

UK environment secretary Michael Gove became the latest Tory MP to announce his intention to challenge Johnson on Sunday.

“I can confirm that I will be putting my name forward to be PM of this country. I believe that I’m ready to unite the Conservative and Union Party, ready to deliver Brexit, and ready to lead this great country,” he told reporters outside his home in London on Sunday. Gove’s decision is reminiscent of the 2016 leadership race, when he was accused of betraying Johnson by withdrawing his support for him.