UK POOL

London, 10 June 2019

1. Various of Conservative leadership contender and former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, leaving his home, getting into car and being driven away ++PLEASE NOTE: DIGITAL BREAK UP DUE TO STILLS CAMERA FLASHES++

2. Wide of Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt during the official launch of his campaign

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Hunt, UK Foreign Secretary and Conservative leadership contender:  

"The leadership I offer is based on one simple truth; without Brexit there will be no Conservative government and maybe no Conservative Party. Whoever delivers Brexit will win the next election for the Conservative Party, but without Brexit, no Conservative Prime Minister can win."

4. Hunt walking from podium to applause

5. Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab arriving at official launch of his leadership campaign

6. Cutaway journalist

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dominic Raab, Former Brexit Secretary and Conservative leadership contender:

"We've suffered a loss of nerve. We need new leadership and that leadership needs to be bold, infused with some of that stubborn optimism. This is a crossroads in our history, we're on the cusp of momentous change. One thing I know, we can't just keep limping on like this without a clear sense of direction, without a clear sense of purpose. The tired approach that got us into this mess is not going to get us out of it."

8. Wide of Raab at podium

9. Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary and Conservative leadership contender, arriving at official launch of his campaign

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary and Conservative leadership contender:

"Some people say that we need a Brexiteer, that with the need to deliver Brexit, we've got to have a Brexiteer. I think that's getting it completely the wrong way round. We need to deliver Brexit and as a party, we need to win back the voters who voted for the Brexit Party because we haven't delivered it yet."

11. Hancock leaving after speech

Nominations close on Monday in the Brexit-dominated race to become Britain's next prime minister, a contest that will be decided by lawmakers and members of the governing Conservative Party.

With a 1600 GMT deadline to submit nomination papers, almost a dozen contenders were already battling it out over tax policy, past drug use - and, of course, Britain's stalled departure from the European Union.

The winner will face the challenge of breaking Britain's impasse over Brexit, an issue that has bedevilled politicians for three years and ultimately defeated outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

The favourite on betting markets is Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary with an instantly recognizable mop of blond hair and a knack for entertaining the public.

He says he will take Britain out of the bloc without a deal if necessary, and on Monday promised a tax cut for millions of middle- and high-income Britons.

Unlike the other candidates, Johnson hasn't given television interviews or held any public events, as his campaign team tries to avoid gaffes that could spoil his front-runner status.

For all candidates, the key issue is Brexit.

The Conservatives have been hammered in recent European and local elections as voters punish the party for failing to leave the 28-nation EU.

"The leadership I offer is based on one simple truth; without Brexit there will be no Conservative government and maybe no Conservative Party," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said as he officially launched his campaign on Monday.

Hunt backed the losing "remain" side during the 2016 EU membership referendum, but now says he will negotiate a better Brexit deal with the EU and lead the UK out of the bloc.

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is competing with Johnson for the support of hardcore Brexiteers.

He said on Monday that Britain had "suffered a loss of nerve" and must not delay its departure from the EU  beyond October 31.

He has even suggested he could suspend Parliament if it tried to delay or impede Brexit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock pitches himself as the face of a younger, modernising generation in the Conservative Party.

Promising to deliver an energising blend of social liberalism and economic dynamism, he said on Monday that the Conservatives had to look beyond Brexit - a message that may be coming too soon for many in the party.