Kemi Badenoch, Boris Johnson in the running for UK PM job as Liz Truss resigns

Kemi Badenoch

Nigeria’s Kemi Badenoch is considering running for the position of UK prime minister following the resignation of Liz Truss.

Truss said on Thursday that she has told King Charles III she is resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.

In a statement from Downing Street in London, she said: “I recognise … given the situation I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.”

Truss said there would be a leadership election to replace her “to be delivered within the next week.” She is now the shortest-reigning prime minister of the UK.

Her resignation comes just weeks after she took over from Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson was forced out of No 10 on September 6 this year but he is understood to now be taking soundings about trying to get his old job back.

A source close to Ms Badenoch said nothing had been ruled out, The Telegraph reports.

It is understood she has already been approached by a number of Tory MPs who would like her to lead the party.

A source close to Badenoch said: “Now that the PM has announced her resignation, the Party must unite around a new leader who restores trust in politics and delivers good government for the British people. Kemi is in conversations with colleagues about how best to achieve this.”

Badenoch was the secretary of state for international trade and president of the board of trade under Truss.