Four more Conservative MPs have joined the Conservative leadership race, expanding the field to eight.
Nadhim Zahawi, newly appointed Chancellor Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary and former Health Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid announced their bids on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Ben Wallace, who was the favorite of bookmakers to succeed Mr. Johnson, announced that it would not be maintained.
Eight conservatives have now thrown their hats into the ring, including Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor.
Presenting his candidacy, Zahawi, who was born in Iraq and “came here at age 11 without a word of English,” said he would “stabilize the ship and stabilize the economy.”
In a statement outlining his view of the country, he also said the “tax burden is simply too high.”
Shapps, meanwhile, said he wanted to make the economy the largest in Europe by 2050.
He also pledged to deal with rising inflation, but added that the state should “demarcate itself” in some areas.
Launching his campaign in The Sunday Times, Shapps said, “We should trust people and allow them to spend their money the way they want.”
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Hunt, who was secretary of health under Theresa May, has presented himself as the only candidate who can regain confidence, as he is the only major candidate who has not served the Johnson administration.
He also pledged to reduce corporate taxes to the lowest level in the Western world.
“By choosing me,” he said, “the Conservative Party is sending a signal to voters that we have listened to your concerns and changed.
Mr. Javid’s resignation as health secretary on Tuesday kicked off the avalanche of departures that forced Johnson to leave.
His proposal for a leader focuses on reducing taxes. Announcing his offer to The Sunday Telegraph, he said he would reduce the corporation tax by 1% a year to finally reach 15%.
Read more: Who are the favorites to be the next prime minister?
Javid said “the tax rate is now almost a 70-year high, and that has happened under the Conservatives.”
Sunak announced his candidacy on Friday, promising to “restore confidence, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.” He resigned from the Treasury shortly after Mr. Javid.
He has won the endorsement of former Conservative President Oliver Dowden and former Cabinet Minister Liam Fox.
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Tom Tugendhat, the former soldier and chairman of the select foreign affairs committee, became the first deputy to take part in the race on Thursday.
Former Equality Minister Kemi Badenoch has also announced that he will run, and has put forward plans to radically reduce the size of the state and preside over a “limited and essential-focused government”.
Suella Braverman, the attorney general, promised “quick and big tax cuts” to ease inflation while presenting her bid to the Daily Express.
It is understood that Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, has been excluded from the race, as has former Secretary of State Michael Gove, who was dismissed by Mr. Johnson before his own resignation.
Liz Truss, the secretary of foreign affairs, and Priti Patel, the secretary of the interior, are also expected to announce the offers.