‘It would simply not be the right thing to do’ – Boris Johnson backs out from Tory leadership contest
Boris Johnson has dramatically bowed out the race for 10 Downing Street after admitting he cannot unite the warring Conservative Party – paving the way for Rishi Sunak to be anointed Britain’s new prime minister next week.
Mr Johnson said he had ‘reached out’ to leadership rivals Mr Sunak and Penny Mordaunt to see if they could work together in the national interest, but it had not proved possible.
In a statement, he insisted he had secured the 100 nominations needed to get onto the ballot paper – and that if he stood there was a ‘very good chance’ he would be back in Downing Street by the end of the week.
Mr Johnson said in a statement: ‘In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament.
‘I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago – and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now.
‘A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country.
‘I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 – and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow.
‘There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members – and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday.
‘But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do.
‘You can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament.
‘And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny – because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest – we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this.
‘Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds.’
He added: ‘I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.’
The shock announcement came amid scepticism that Mr Johnson had not crossed the 100 MP threshold.
The latest tally by BBC News had Mr Sunak on 147, Mr Johnson on 57 and Miss Mordaunt on 24.
Rishi Sunak appears set to become the new Prime Minister tomorrow after Boris Johnson sensationally dropped out of the Tory leadership race this evening – with rival Penny Mordaunt short of the 100 backers threshold.