FILE PHOTO: British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaves Millbank Studios after a media interview in London, Britain, May 27, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo

Ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has thrown his hat in the ring in the race to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Sunak resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday in protest at Johnson’s leadership.

In doing so, he triggered a wave of resignations in the conservative government faction. “Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and bring the country back together,” Sunak wrote in a message on Twitter. He also posted a high-quality video with his family history.

Sunak was once considered the most promising candidate to succeed Johnson. He benefited above all from the popularity of the so-called Furlough program, a measure modeled on the German short-time work scheme that saved millions of people from losing their jobs during the pandemic.

However, his reputation suffered considerably when it turned out that his extremely wealthy wife was benefiting from a legal tax-saving model.