LONDON - The leading candidates to replace Ms Liz Truss as Britain’s prime minister include key figures from her Cabinet as well as former rivals for leadership of the Conservative Party.

Some analysts have even speculated that Mr Boris Johnson, who resigned as prime minister in the summer, could make a return.

Adding to the uncertainty: Even the process for choosing a new leader is up in the air as Ms Truss vowed to be replaced in just a week.

Mr Graham Brady, the chairman of the committee of Conservative lawmakers, left open several scenarios and said that party members would be consulted, but he gave few details.

But Mr Jeremy Hunt, who was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer last week and is credited with restoring some economic stability, does not appear to be among Ms Truss’ possible successors. He said on Thursday he would not run for party leader, the BBC reported.

Here is a look at some of the potential contenders.

Rishi Sunak (Former chancellor of the Exchequer)

Mr Sunak, 42, served as chancellor of the Exchequer under Mr Johnson and was seen for a time as his most likely successor.

But he finished second in the party leadership contest to Ms Truss in September, hampered by his association with Covid-19-era spending, tax increases and Britain’s cost-of-living crisis, as well as his part in pushing out Mr Johnson, an ouster that many party members came to say they regret.

“He has the plan & credibility to restore financial stability, help get inflation down & deliver sustainable tax cuts over time; and unite the Conservatives by bringing the best talent into govt to deliver for the British people,” former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said on Twitter.

Senior Conservative Member of Parliament Mel Stride said he would back Mr Sunak to be the next British prime minister and Conservative Party leader, in a tweet late on Thursday.

Mr Sunak, the Oxford- and Stanford-educated son of Indian immigrants, has been held up as an example of a multiethnic and more modern Britain. But two scandals this year tarnished his reputation.

His wealthy wife was found to have claimed a tax status that allowed her to avoid paying taxes on some of her income. Then it was revealed that Mr Sunak continued to hold a green card, allowing him to live and work in the United States for months after he became chancellor.

Penny Mordaunt (Leader of the House of Commons)

Ms Mordaunt, 49, became leader of the lower house of Britain’s Parliament after briefly emerging as a contender in this summer’s Conservative Party leadership contest, won by Ms Truss. At the time, Ms Mordaunt’s swift rise alarmed some critics, who said that she was untested and thinly qualified for prime minister.

A paratrooper’s daughter who serves in the Royal Naval Reserve, Ms Mordaunt was defence secretary for 2.5 months in 2019 and held a lesser Cabinet post in charge of international development.

People who have worked with Ms Mordaunt describe her as charming and sincere but not interested in the complexities of policy. She also has little economic experience, just as Britain is striving to maintain economic credibility.

Boris Johnson (former prime minister)

Supporters of Mr Johnson, 58, quickly called on him to run in the contest to win his old job back, just a few months after he was forced to resign over a series of ethics scandals.

Having won a landslide election victory in 2019, Mr Johnson could at least claim he had a mandate to lead the country without holding a new general election, but installing him as prime minister again would be a big risk for the Conservative Party.

Not only is he a divisive figure among voters, but he is also being investigated by a powerful parliamentary committee over whether he misled lawmakers about lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street. And it is far from certain that his return to power would be welcomed by financial markets that have stabilised recently.

Still, using the hashtag #bringbackboris, the recently appointed Minister of International Trade, Mr James Duddridge, wrote on Twitter: “I hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing.”

Mr Johnson, who is currently on holiday in the Carribean, has not officially declared his intention to run, but his staunch supporter Nadine Dorries said she spoke to him following Ms Truss’ resignation and hinted strongly that he was preparing to run.

Suella Braverman (Former home secretary)

Ms Braverman, 42, is seen as a dark horse candidate. She is a hardliner who was hostile to moves to allow more immigrants into Britain, and previously served as attorney-general.

She resigned as home secretary on Wednesday after acknowledging that she was guilty of a technical breach of e-mail security rules. But in her letter of resignation, she said she had “concerns about the direction of this government”, accusing it of breaking pledges to voters and, in particular, of failing to curb immigration.

Ms Braverman is the daughter of Kenyan and Mauritian immigrants. Last year, while being the attorney-general, she made headlines when she became Britain’s first Cabinet official to take paid maternity leave without stepping down from her post, after Parliament changed a law that would have required her to do so.

Kemi Badenoch (Trade Secretary)

Another hopeful for the top job during the Conservative Party leadership contest, Ms Badenoch, 42, could throw her hat in the ring again. She is popular with party grassroots and if the race reaches the membership she may stand a chance. 

Grant Shapps (Home Secretary)

One day into his role as Home Secretary after he was brought in to replace Ms Braverman on Wednesday, Mr Shapps, 54, did not hide his contempt for Ms Truss. Originally a Sunak-supporter, Mr Shapps is known among allies for his strong communications skills. NYTIMES, BLOOMBERG, AFP