Exclusive: Cornwall MP on Boris Johnson's resignation and if he'll run for Tory leader
We secured the first interview with Environment Secretary George Eustice after the Prime Minister's statement
Last updated 7th Jul 2022
The Cornwall MP and Environment Secretary, George Eustice, has given us his first interview since Boris Johnson's resignation statement.
The Member of Parliament for Camborne and Redruth was among those to survive a Cabinet reshuffle, just moments before Mr Johnson confirmed his intention to stand down as Prime Minister.
Our Westminster Correspondent, Georgie Prodromou, asked Mr Eustice whether he would run for Conservative Party leader, to which he responded: "I've not thought about it at that sort of level.
"I think it's unlikely. Generally people who want to be leader of the party have spent several years thinking about it and nurturing contacts with other people in the party - I've sort of had my head down in DEFRA getting on with that. I've not thought about it in any serious way at the moment".
When asked who he would like to see in the role, Mr Eustice said: "I'm sure there'll be a lot of candidates again now and I shall be waiting to see who puts their name forward in the days ahead".
Speaking about Boris Johnson's resignation announcement, Mr Eustice said: "Boris Johnson will be remembered as achieving a number of important things. Most importantly, of course, getting Brexit done after years of deadlock in politics in this country and taking us through that most difficult pandemic and rolling out the vaccines as fast as that. But in the end, Prime Ministers can only remain while they've got the confidence of Parliament and, in particular, the confidence of their own party.
"It's been clear, really, since the beginning of June that a significant number of Conservative MPs had concerns, had lost confidence in him.
"He had a very small window of time in order to be able to try and regain that confidence; he wasn't able to. There comes a moment where you have to recognise that and that's why I think he's done the right thing in stepping down".
Mr Eustice was asked if he was disappointed at the way in which Boris Johnson's leadership had ended, to which he replied: "Prime Ministers never really go on their own terms. Most of them end up with events turning against them, whether that was Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair or David Cameron or even Theresa May, they can never entirely pick their own moment of departure. So I think in that sense he's no different.
"He had a lot more he wanted to do, he would've liked to have carried on but in the end, all Prime Ministers have to face the reality that when they've lost the confidence of their party, their ability to carry on as Prime Minister ends".
Mr Eustice confirmed that on Wednesday he, among other members of the Cabinet, privately communicated with Boris Johnson what he thought should happen.
He said: "I think the right thing to do, if you're part of the team, is to privately communicate what you think should happen and then give the Prime Minister time to reflect and assess their own position".
When asked what he thought of Boris Johnson remaining as leader until a replacement was appointed, Mr Eustice said: "Labour and the Lib Dems are opposition parties, they'll always call for things like that so that's no surprise.
"I think the reality is the Prime Minister's now said he's going and I don't think the party will begrudge him the fact that he should perform that caretaker role. That's always what's happened before. That's even what Theresa May did previously, despite the fact that she had completely lost the confidence of the party so I think that they will allow him to carry on for the next few months.
"It's the right thing to do to give you that continuity. You should stay in the role until there's a replacement and there's a lot going on in the world. We don't want to have two changes of Prime Minister. We should actually allow him to carry on that role.
"I suspect, very quickly, the focus will move onto the leadership contest and probably by tomorrow people will have forgotten all about that question that's being put around by some today".
Who might replace Boris Johnson?
Liz Truss - Winner
The Foreign Secretary has made little secret of her leadership ambitions, with a series of high-profile interventions and photo opportunities in which she appeared to be channelling late PM Margaret Thatcher.
Her hard line on Ukraine, insisting Russian forces must be driven from the country, and threats to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU, play well with sections of the party.
Away from politics, Ms Truss's flair for social media has seen her offer an insight into life outside of Westminster by updating her Instagram account with pictures of her relaxing at the beach, or behind the scenes at official events, though her passions combined to bizarre effect in 2014 when her improbably enthusiastic speech about opening pork markets in Beijing went viral.
Rishi Sunak - Defeated in the final two
The former Chancellor's rise from relative obscurity to household name came as he turned on the spending taps to protect jobs through the furlough scheme when the coronavirus pandemic struck.
But his stock took a tumble more recently following disclosures that his wife had non-dom status for tax purposes, and that he was too slow to respond to the cost-of-living crisis
Penny Mordaunt - Eliminated
Ms Mordaunt made waves in 2019 as the UK's first female defence secretary before being fired by Mr Johnson shortly after becoming PM.
Ms Mordaunt has many strings to her bow - she is a Royal Navy reservist, the current trade minister and a former reality television contestant, having appeared on the Tom Daley-fronted diving show Splash.
She played a prominent role in the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and has previously reportedly enjoyed the backing of Dame Andrea Leadsom among others.
Kemi Badenoch - Eliminated
Former equalities minister and MP for Saffron Walden Kemi Badenoch threw her hat into the ring with a plan for a smaller state and a government "focused on the essentials".
Ms Badenoch said she will deliver tax cuts "to boost growth and productivity and accompanied by tight spending discipline". Ms Badenoch may be considered an outsider for the leadership given the Tory grandees already in the running, but her profile was boosted by an endorsement from Michael Gove on Sunday.
Tom Tugendhat - Eliminated
Eliminated. The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat became the first contender to officially throw his hat in the ring, saying he was putting together a "broad coalition" offering a "clean start".
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the former soldier said: "I have served before – in the military, and now in Parliament. Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister."
Suella Braverman - Eliminated
Attorney General Suella Braverman was one of the first to openly say that she would stand in a leadership contest as she called for the Prime Minister to quit.
Jeremy Hunt - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former foreign secretary and ex-health secretary has been a persistent backbench critic of Mr Johnson and had called on the Prime Minister to quit.
Mr Hunt is making a fresh bid for the leadership, having been runner-up to Mr Johnson in 2019.
Nadhim Zahawi - Eliminated
Failed to secure enough MP votes in the first round.
The former education secretary is regarded by some as a "safe pair of hands" if other candidates prove too divisive
Iraqi-born Mr Zahawi was a successful businessman and came to wider prominence as vaccines minister during the pandemic where he was credited with playing a key part in the successful rollout of the jab.
Sajid Javid - Withdrawn
Sajid Javid pulled out of the race to succeed Boris Johnson as Tory leader moments before the official nominations were revealed. In a statement, the former health secretary said: "Serving in Government is a true privilege. It has been just seven days since I took the difficult decision to resign from the most important job I have ever had, as health secretary during a pandemic.
"Since then, I have set out the values and policies I think are right for the future of our great country. I believe the party must now look outwards, not inwards, if we are to win again.
"There is an abundance of both ideas and talent in our party. One of the candidates will be given the honour of becoming Prime Minister.
Rehman Chishti - Withdrawn
The newly appointed Foreign Office minister announced his bid for the top job via a Facebook post but withdrew from the race tweeting "I will not be taking my campaign any further for the leadership of our party as I have not been able to secure the necessary parliamentary backing".
Grant Shapps - Withdrawn from contest
The Transport Secretary had put himself forward as a leadership candidate, but withdrew from the contest after it was announced that candidates would need 20 MPs to back their nomination.
In a tweet, he said he was now supporting former chancellor Rishi Sunak: "Amongst a field of brilliant candidates, I've spoken to Rishi Sunak who I believe has the competence and experience to lead this country."
Steve Baker - Not running
Prominent Brexiteer and former minister Steve Baker, a senior Tory backbencher had said he was considering running for the position, but eventually dropped out of the leadership race and announced he will support Suella Braverman.
Ben Wallace - Not running
The Defence Secretary was an early favourite for the leadership but ruled himself out on Saturday.