More than half the party’s “shadow cabinet” – opposition leaders who form an alternative cabinet to “shadow” government cabinet members – have resigned.
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While Boris Johnson has been hailed by the global media as the presumed frontrunner to succeed David Cameron as Conservative leader and prime minister, the party has a long history of rejecting both frontrunners and assassins.
Former London mayor and Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson leaves his home in London.
“They are our neighbours, brothers and sisters who did what they passionately believe was right”.
Johnson also claims in his article that “there will still be intense and intensifying European cooperation and partnership in a huge number of fields”.
“EU citizens living in this country will have their rights fully protected, and the same goes for British citizens living in the European Union”, he said.
Meanwhile a “balanced and humane” points-based immigration system would be put in place, allowing the UK Government to take back control over population figures.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and Business Secretary Sajid Javid are reportedly considering standing on a joint ticket.
Mr Hunt, who previously said he expected the health brief to be his “last big job in politics”, rejected suggestions that the new leader had to come from the pro-Brexit camp.
Boris Johnson is now the second favourite at 11/8 odds while Brexit campaigner and minister of state for energy Andrea Leadsom is third at 12/1.
Other runners and riders include Nicky Morgan, the woman who replaced Mr Gove as Education Secretary, and Brexit-supporting Priti Patel, who was by Mr Johnson’s side throughout much of the referendum campaign.
The speed of her announcement is understood to be part of a “Stop Boris” bid.
And he warned failure to deliver sharp cuts in levels of migration from the European Union would amount to “selling out” the 17 million voters who voted Brexit, urging Tory leadership candidates to “hold faith” with the referendum result.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening earlier suggested on Sky News that Mr Johnson and Mrs May should do a deal and avoid a leadership contest.
At a news conference in London Monday morning with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in London, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammon said other European residents are “as entitled to work, live and visit today as they were on Wednesday”, the day before the vote, and the same freedoms are extended to British citizens living outside the United Kingdom.
Throughout the campaign, Mr Johnson had been accused of campaigning against Mr Cameron’s stance in order to better his own career prospects.
Nominations for the race to succeed David Cameron open on Wednesday when backbenchers meet to approve the timetable for the contest – which is due to produce a new prime minister by September 2.
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The “Brexit” scramble continued Monday with Conservatives unveiling an expedited plan to replace David Cameron a month sooner than the prime minister had previously announced.
