Johnson's successor has it all to do in UK
Bitter divisions, surging inflation just some of the issues awaiting next PM
Whoever succeeds Boris Johnson as Britain's next prime minister will face the challenges of rebuilding the government's credibility, boosting the economy and healing the divisions within the ruling Conservative Party, analysts said.
Five candidates have made it through to the next round of voting by party MPs in the race to lead the Conservative Party, a post that comes with the job of prime minister, after the second round of voting finished on Thursday.
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak won the most votes in the latest round involving six candidates, as one contender was eliminated.
Sunak, with 101 votes, was followed by International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt on 83 votes and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 64 votes.
The 1922 Committee, comprising backbenchers, must whittle down the field to two candidates. The final two will go head to head in a postal ballot of Conservative Party members over the summer. The winner will be announced on Sept 5, becoming the new Tory leader and the UK's next premier.
The Tory leadership race was triggered after Johnson was forced to bow to the inevitable last week by an avalanche of resignations of cabinet ministers and junior government officials who took a stand against his scandal-plagued leadership.
He Yun, an associate professor in the School of Public Administration at Hunan University in Changsha, said that due to the lingering effects of Brexit, the pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the economy has become the biggest issue in the UK. That means the candidates' perceived ability to handle the economic difficulties will be a major consideration.
"Whoever succeeds Johnson will have a challenging task ahead," He said. "UK inflation is the highest among the G7 and the country's growth is forecast to be the slowest next year. It will take a competent leader to steer the UK to a brighter road ahead."
The British economy stopped growing in February and started shrinking in March. Inflation is expected to peak above 10 percent this year, even higher than in the United States, she said.
"The combination of factors is causing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades, forcing lower-income households to choose between heating and eating," she said.
There is also divergence within the ruling party on issues such as taxation and how to balance the UK's economic interests with its security needs. Britain's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict will not change significantly under a new prime minister. Britain has been a strong supporter of Ukraine.
