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Defence Minister Ben Wallace and Indian-origin Rishi Sunak, whose departure as Finance Minister on Tuesday sparked the Cabinet exodus, were among the early frontrunners to succeed Mr. Johnson, according to a YouGov survey of Conservative party members.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, another potential contender, said Mr. Johnson had “made the right decision” as she cut short a trip to Indonesia for a G20 meeting. “We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found,” she tweeted.
But in the highly charged hours building up to Mr. Johnson’s announcement, opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer had said the country cannot wait.
Mr. Starmer said “a proper change of government” was needed and demanded a no-confidence vote in Parliament, potentially triggering a general election, rather than Johnson “clinging on for months and months”.
Even while eyeing the exit, Mr. Johnson had earlier Thursday sought to steady the ship with several appointments to replace the departed cabinet members.
They included Greg Clark, an arch “remainer” opposed to Britain’s divorce from the European Union, which Johnson had championed.
Shailesh Vara, who has never served in the Cabinet, was put in charge of Northern Ireland, with the government locked in battle with Brussels over post-Brexit trading rules for the tense territory. Mr. Johnson had been clinging on to power despite a wave of more than 50 government resignations, expressing defiance late Wednesday.
