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Who will be the next UK Prime Minister? Latest odds on Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt for No10
THE new UK Prime Minister will announced today, results are expected at 11.45 am.
Rivals Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, are fighting to become the next Prime Minister - but who do the public think the party's 160,000 members will vote for? Her's the latest odds.
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Who are the final two and what are their odds?
Boris Johnson remains the runaway favourite to be the next Prime Minister and Tory leader.
But Jeremy Hunt is still in the race.
The pair have taken part in two live debates - one on ITV and another at The Sun.
Here are what the bookies are saying on July 22, 2019, according to Smarkets, on who will be the next Tory leader.
Boris Johnson - 1/50
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Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is still a hugely popular figure among Tory grassroots and the general public.
Boris quit as Foreign Secretary in July 2018, just hours after Theresa May lost Brexit Secretary David Davis over her Chequers plan to keep close ties to Brussels.
He called on May to stop "dithering" and tell the EU that Britain will not accept the controversial backstop arrangement designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland.
The 54-year-old also pledged to pay for a massive tax break for 3million Brits through money reserved for a No Deal exit - despite being open to a No Deal.
He vowed to deliver a super-fast Brexit.
Johnson said his priority on tax would be raising the level at which people start paying National Insurance contributions — lifting it from the current £8,632 threshold to the personal insurance level of £12,500.
He also said he would take middle income earners out of the higher rate of income tax by raising the level at which people pay the 40p threshold to £80,000.
Jeremy Hunt - 41/1
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Mr Hunt was the longest-serving Health Secretary in British history (nearly six years) before replacing Boris as Foreign Secretary.
He left the Department of Health after securing a £20bn funding increase for the NHS, but was hated by junior doctors after changing their contracts so they wouldn't receive extra pay for the many shifts they work - previously classified as unsociable hours.
Despite campaigning for Remain during the referendum, Hunt now backs the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Just hours after Mrs May resigned, he put his name into the hat to be in the running to replace her.
On June 5, Trade Secretary Liam Fox threw his support behind Hunt in a surprise move, followed by two heavyweights - prominent leaver and defence secretary Penny Mordaunt and work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd.
Hunt opened his leadership bid by claiming the new PM might not be able to start renegotiating with the EU until November 1 because its new Commission only starts then.
What happened during the live debates?
Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson both took part in two head-to-heads.
The final one at The Sun HQ saw an outbreak of harmony under the eyes of debate host – Sun Political Editor Tom Newton Dunn:
- They both hit out at Donald Trump for tweeting that four non-white US politicians should leave the country;
- Both insisted England cricket star Ben Stokes should lead the way in a list of gongs for our World Cup heroes;
- BoJo refused to reveal if he’ll bring girlfriend Carrie to No10 with him;
- He insisted only a true believer can deliver Brexit and convince the EU he’s serious;
- Boris had the audience laughing in our London HQ with banter about Love Island’s Amber;
- Mr Hunt appeared to offer Mr Johnson the job of Chancellor;
- Both candidates committed to including at least one woman in their top team;
- The rivals accused Jeremy Corbyn of being personally anti-Semitic;
- They agreed to go for a pint together when the bruising leadership election ends;
- But disagreed over whether to cut the number of immigrants to Britain.
The first debate on ITV saw them clash over Brexit, benefits and Donald Trump:
- They vowed they would keep hated Universal Credit if they became PM - but Hunt hinted he would cut the five-week wait for cash. But both committed to keeping the flagship welfare policy in place;
- Both candidates said they intend to leave the UK by October 31, with Johnso more likely to push through a No Deal Brexit than Hunt;
- Johnson denied there would be a "disorderly" Brexit and promised to avoid a No Deal, although he wants to prepare for No Deal and claims we will have £39billion to spend on it;
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- Hunt says it will be "very serious" if a No Deal is necessary, and says he has a ten-point Brexit plan to avoid that outcome;
- Hunt told Donald Trump his comments about Theresa May were "unacceptable";
- Johnson says he has a strong relationship with the White House, but didn't give a conclusive answer about the president's comments.
- Hunt would not sack the UK ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, as a reaction to Trump saying he wouldn't deal with him, meanwhile Johnson would not answer the question.
Why did Theresa May resign?
Theresa May stepped down as Tory leader without delivering Brexit and with her party on the verge of extinction.
May claimed she had done all she could to take Britain out of the EU with a deal, saying: "Ever since I first stepped through the door behind me as Prime Minister, I have striven to make the United Kingdom a country that works not just for a privileged few, but for everyone. And to honour the result of the EU referendum.
"If you give people a choice you have a duty to implement what they decide. I have done my best to do that.
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"Sadly I have not been able to do so. I tried three times - I believe it was right to persevere even when the odds against success seemed high."
May survived a vote of no confidence in December 2018, but repeated thwarted attempts to pass her Brexit deal left her without authority.
May will remain as Prime Minister until a new party leader is announced in the week beginning July 22.
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