Boris Johnson's replacement

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, considered one of the main contenders for prime minister after Boris Johnson's resignation, said on Saturday he would not run for the position of leader of the ruling Conservative Party and head of government.

Wallace was seen by voters as the most likely successor to Johnson, according to a survey by the YouGov polling institute, the results of which were published on Thursday. What's more, a poll on the Tory supporters' website Conservative Home also showed that it was the head of the Ministry of Defence who was the favourite in the race.

The Spectator magazine, following Wallace's announcement, circulated a fresh bookmakers' forecast for the election of the new Conservative leader, which now names former finance minister Rishi Sunak as the main contender for prime minister. He is followed by Deputy Commerce Minister Penelope Mary Mordaunt and Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss.

Four politicians have so far officially announced their entry into the election race. In addition to Sunak, they are the head of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee Tom Tugendhat, the attorney general (attornay) for England and Wales Sue-Ellen Braverman and MP Kemi Badenoch.

Meanwhile, influential members of the Conservative Party House of Commons (CPHC) leader Mark Spencer, former Conservative Party co-chair Oliver Dowden, former defence minister Liam Fox and the former prime minister's trade representative in Morocco and Tunisia have already publicly declared their support for the former finance chief.

It is also worth noting that Johnson announced his resignation as head of the Conservative Party on Thursday after 60 people, including Sunak, defiantly left the British Cabinet. He also said he would cease to be prime minister once a new Tory leader is elected to lead the government. Also, a timetable for the election of a new party leader will be set next week.