In Britain, at least eight candidates have joined the fray to battle it out to take over the reins from Prime Minister Theresa May. May had announced her resignation earlier this week and is set to formally step down as Tory leader and PM on June 7.

The formal segment of the party leadership contest will then kick off on June 10, but prospective candidates have already begun laying out their bids for the top job.

While hard Brexiteer Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary, is seen as the frontrunner to succeed May, the contest still remains wide open to at least seven other contenders.

UK environment secretary Michael Gove became the latest Tory MP to announce his intention to challenge Johnson today.

Among some of the other contenders eyeing Downing Street include the former Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, and former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom. They joined UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, international development Secretary Rory Stewart, health secretary Matt Hancock, and former work and pension’s secretary Esther McVey, in the battle for the leadership.

Meanwhile, May is set to continue as Prime Minister while the leadership contest takes place. Tory MPs have until the week beginning June 10 to put their names forward and any of them can stand as long as they have the backing of two parliamentary colleagues.

The candidates will then be whittled down by votes of MPs until two remain, and in July a postal ballot of all Tory party members will be held to decide the winner.