Johnson is a known vote-winner and the best campaigner the Conservatives have seen in modern times.

But a series of scandals during his time as prime minister means any second go comes with baggage that didn’t exist when he displaced Theresa May and delivered the government an 80-seat majority in 2019 with a promise to Get Brexit Done.

Johnson is by far the most known figure in the public,but there is still an outstanding issue from the partygate scandal. That has triggered a House of Commons investigation by the Privileges Committee into whether Johnson deliberately misled the House.

Even MPs who support Boris believe this could be a barrier and would have preferred Truss’ downfall to come in December,by which time the report is expected to have been handed down.

Johnson is no shoo-in though. Remember,scores of ministers quit his cabinet over his chaotic governance style just a few months ago,and some MPs have even said they will quit rather than work under him again.

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak seems the obvious and logical choice. He was the chancellor of the exchequer and so has governing experience at the second-highest level – plus everything he predicted would happen under a Truss premiership came true,so he comes out vindicated.

But a huge section of the party,Johnsonsites and other right-wingers,fear his ascendancy will see the re-elevation of figures like former whip Dominic Cummings and cabinet ministers Gavin Williamson and Michael Gove.

He is still accused by many Johnsonites of stabbing Johnson in the back. However,Sunak won the MPs’ votes every ballot last time around,so would be in pole position to start out with 100 votes this time.

Penny Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt,who came third in the MPs’ ballots last time – just behind Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – is also likely to run.

Her campaign social media account tweeted just minutes after Truss resigned that it was “make or break time” and that “only Penny can win us the next general election”.

There are fears that Mordaunt could turn out to be a Truss-lite – that is,a weak performer under pressure – but she has put in some solid appearances as Leader of the House of Commons and comes with considerable support from MPs.

The Wildcards:

Kemi Badenoch impressed MPs and members when she ran in the last contest and emerged as the darling of the right.

However,she had no cabinet experience and was considered too green to be installed as prime minister.

She was appointed to cabinet under Truss as trade minister,but the short stint may not be enough for a party rattled by how badly it went under Truss.

There’s a desire for a safe pair of hands. It’s worth pointing out that Truss had plenty of cabinet experience and that didn’t help her govern any better.

Badenoch would be the Conservatives’ fourth female leader and the first who is black,which Tories believe would be a powerful antidote against Labour leaderKeir Starmer. But her brand is associated with fighting the left on culture wars,and she may not have had the time to round herself out as a candidate capable of appealing to the public on a variety of issues.

Former home secretarySuella Bravermanalso did well in the leadership contest and has the backing of the Brexiteers. She would be battling Badenoch for the same pool of voters,so it’s likely it would be one or the other that nominates.

Brandon Lewishas been a cabinet minister for years and is considered a safe pair of hands,if not slightly dour and dull.

The candidates will nominate on Monday.

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