By Iain Fraser - Consultant Geopolitical Editor

GEOPoliticalMatters.com

My sources in Downing Street say the preceding week was brutal for incumbent Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leaders, however true to his form he deflected one accusation or innuendo continually reverting to his mantra of the "I have a mandate from the British people - therefore I am getting on with the business of government."

So Boris finally bowed to what was unyielding pressure and has agreed to stand down as Prime Minister. Last weekend saw various high profile conservatives and some completely unknowns throw their hat in the ring. 

For me, I am sad to see him go, particularly, in my opinion, the wholly shabby way he was dispatched. At the end of the day - like him or not, he steered the UK through Brexit and dealt with the "other side" the COVID Pandemeic, stewarding the largest deployment of vaccines in Europe and by hook or crook with his wing-man Rishi Sunak, kept the UK economy fairly stable (bankrupt, but stable).

Now after a swift manipulation of the rules by Sir Graham Brady and the all powerful 1922 commitee the "candidates" have been selected. The jux ta position of the rules has seen just eight contenders through to the next stage.

My favorite, Sajid Javid - who kicked off an avalanche of government resignations last week sadly dropped out of the race just minutes before the candidates were announced because he hadn't garnered enough support.

The Runners & Riders - The eight MPs who have got through to the first round are:

• Rishi Sunak

• Penny Mordaunt

• Tom Tugendhat

• Liz Truss

• Suella Braverman

• Jeremy Hunt

• Kemi Badenoch

• Nadhim Zahawi

The remaining eight all got at least the 20 nominations needed to get through to the first round. The candidates are taking part in 12-minute hustings in front of Tory MPs in parliament this evening [Tuesday, 13 July 2022] ahead of another ballot on Wednesday to whittle down the candidates to two. Click Here for UK: Conservative Leader Elections Part 1