Tory lawmakers and officials could breathe a sigh of relief if Boris Johnson steps down later this morning.
However, there are immediate concerns for those who want the top job, even before the leadership contest kicks off.
Johnson will leave behind a badly divided party for who will inherit the crown.
The prime minister himself — his conduct, his judgment and whether or not he deserved his party’s support — was itself a major divisive issue.
Then there are also the ideological divisions within the party, which have been exacerbated by years of wrangling over Brexit and personal freedom during the pandemic.
Although the Brexit vote took place more than six years ago, there are still major disagreements over the relationship to have with Europe, ranging from the reintegration of some aspects of the EU to open hostility on international treaties.
Johnson’s successor will inherit this mess 12 years after the party came to power in 2010. The country is facing a cost of living crisis and the party’s approval ratings have been plummeting for months.
As appealing as it may seem to be Britain’s leader (and there are plenty of people ready to throw their hats in the ring), it’s going to be hard to step out of the shadow of the most famous Prime Minister to take office. since Winston Churchill. .