Former health secretary Sajid Javid and current chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi have both declared their plans to run for Conservative Party leader.
Rishi Sunak announced his intentions to run for the leadership yesterday with his “Ready For Rishi” campaign.
Javid told the Sunday Telegraph he was not sure if he would have introduced the rise in National Insurance.
But he said he had been “focused” on his own job while in government was “not trying to do other people’s jobs for them”.
Zahawi, born in Baghdad, was appointed as the new chancellor this week after Rishi Sunak quit from the role.
“My aim is a simple one: to provide the opportunities that were afforded to my generation, to all Britons, whoever you are and wherever you come from. To steady the ship and to stabilise the economy.”
The expectation is that a new leader will be elected before the Commons returns from summer recess in September — in about six weeks time.
