Kemi Badenoch, a former minister for equalities, has entered the race to be the next Conservative MP and party leader.
Ms. Badenoch confirmed her candidacy to the Times. She said that she wants a limited government and "tell the truth".
Rishi Sunak, former chancellor, is the most prominent candidate. He stepped into the ring Friday.
Ex-Brexit minister Steve Baker stated that he would not stand and said that he would back Attorney General Suella Brverman.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, resigned this Week after many government ministers quit. He stated that he plans to remain in Downing Street until a successor has been chosen.
Tom Tugendhat, a senior Conservative backbencher, has also launched an initiative to run for the leadership - so far four MPs have done this.
Others who may be interested in joining the race are Sajid Javid (ex-health secretary), Ben Wallace (current Defence Secretary), and Jeremy Hunt (ex-foreign secretary).
Next week, a timetable will be established for the Tory leadership race and the new prime minster is expected to be in place by September.
Ms. Badenoch argued her case in an opinion piece in The Times. She said that a strong but limited government, focused on the essentials, was necessary.
The 42-year old MP for Saffron Foresten, who was one of those to resign from their government jobs this week, said that she would reduce taxes and have a strict spending policy.
She wrote that "Without changing the Conservative Party, Britain will continue to drift" and that rivals would "outpace us economically as well as outmanoeuvre us internationallly".
"I am running for the leadership election because I want truth to be told. The truth will set us free.
She stated that "people are tired of platitudes, empty rhetoric", and that they lack an "intellectual grasp" of the requirements to run a country.
Ms Badenoch's time as equalities minister was criticized by members of the government’s LGBT+ advisory board in March for her delays in banning conversion therapy.
On Wednesday, she quit her role as junior minister with four of her colleagues. She stated in a joint letter that she was leaving both roles with "great regret".
Sunak announced his candidacy for the presidency on Friday. He said, "Someone must grasp this moment and take the right decisions."
In a video on social media, the former chancellor stated that he wanted "restore trust", rebuild the economy, and reunite the nation.
Many senior Tory MPs, including Oliver Dowden (and Mark Spencer), have supported Mr Sunak’s campaign.
Last month, Mr Dowden, party chairman, resigned saying that the former chancellor was the best person to lead the country, and beat Labour.
Jacob Rees Mogg, Commons Leader, said that he will not support Mr Sunak's bid for leadership and criticized the former chancellor on his taxation policies.
He said, "I will support someone who believes in keeping the public expenditure under control. This is what I believe is essential to combat inflation," on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions program.
