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The 4 most likely people to become the UK’s next leader

The four most likely people to replace Cameron

The UK’s unexpected move Thursday to split from the European Union spurred Prime Minister David Cameron to announce he’d resign by October to give the people “fresh leadership.”

The Conservative leader faced his fair share of controversy during his six years as prime minister but had a string of victories until last week. In 2015 he led his conservative party in a successful election and in 2014 came out on top when a Scottish independence referendum failed.

“The British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction,” he said Friday morning in an emotional press conference outside 10 Downing Street.

“I will do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.”

So who will be the prime minister to the UK through the choppy waters of a Brexit? Here are some likely options.

Boris Johnson

Andrew Parsons / PA via AP, File)
Andrew Parsons / PA via AP, File)

The former mayor of London has emerged as the rallying voice in the pro-Brexit community. Johnson, a college buddy of David Cameron and a prominent member of the Conservative Party, is the obvious choice for prime minister come October. Bookies have him as their 4-5 favorite and expert voices like the Financial Times’ Martin Wolf say he’ll likely be in the running.

Johnson, who was born in New York City, has been compared to US presidential candidate Donald Trump. They both have wispy yellow hair, they’re both anti-immigration, they’ve both starred on television shows and they both have loudly taken note of President Obama’s Kenyan background. Like Trump, Johnson possesses both wealth and considerable working-class appeal. Johnson also has a way with words and is a well-noted debater.

Johnson goes by his first name Boris or “BoJo” and was once a good friend of current prime minister Cameron. He resigned as mayor of London in 2015 to successfully run for Parliament after Cameron recruited him, saying he wanted “his star players on the pitch.”

Johnson once said, “"My chances of being prime minister are about as good as the chances of finding Elvis on Mars." It looks like we should check and see if the Rover has spotted any bedazzled jumpsuits lately.

Theresa May

(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, FILE)
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, FILE)

The current home secretary might give BoJo a run for his money in the upcoming election. In fact she’s already being touted as the “Stop Boris” choice.

May didn’t back the Brexit, but her opposition may help her as many Britons who voted “leave” are starting to feel the pangs buyer’s remorse. Moreover, May largely stayed out of the day-to-day Brexit politics and backed a withdrawal from the European convention on human rights on the grounds that it made her nation less secure.

May has a strong track record of successfully negotiating with the EU. As Home Secretary she’s attempted to secure borders, reduce immigration and protect the UK from terrorism, all goals that the UK’s “leave” voters support.

George Osborne

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (responsible for financial and economic matters), member of Parliament for Tatton and First Secretary of State has become a looming figure in the Brexit debate. Osborne has long been seen as Cameron’s obvious successor and has been staunchly pro-EU. Still, the treasury chief cuts a reassuring figure in rough waters.

In Osborne’s first public speech Monday morning he admitted, “On Thursday, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. That is not the outcome that I wanted or that I threw everything into campaigning for.” Still, Osborne says he’s willing to give the people what they want. “I don’t resile from any of the concerns I expressed during the campaign, but I fully accept the result of the referendum and will do everything I can to make it work for Britain.”

Osborne may serve as a bridge between those who wanted to stay in the EU and those who didn’t. A finance minister is also a good bet during what are sure to be economically tumultuous times in the years ahead.

Michael Gove

The UK’s justice secretary is seen as the brains behind the EU referendum. Like Johnson, Gove was also once great friends with David Cameron. He was even godfather to Cameron’s severely disabled son Ivan, who died in 2009.

Gove is a controversial figure; he may lean too far on the side of Brexit to unite a now-divided Britain. In the lead-up to the referendum, he compared experts who warned against the Brexit to Nazis who were against Einstein’s findings in the 1930s. He later apologized for the remarks but the damage was done. David Cameron even suggested his old buddy had “lost it.”

Gove is not well revered by the Tory party, which also makes him an unlikely choice. Still, he has emerged as one of the most vocal pro-Brexit figures in the UK, perhaps only second to Boris Johnson. No matter what, he’ll play a large political role in the years to come — he may even join Johnson’s ticket.

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