'Simply Not The Right Time': Boris Johnson Pulls Out Of UK PM Race, Rishi Sunak Praises Ex-PM

Boris Johnson claimed he had crossed the 100-MPs threshold but decided not to go forward in the interest of the Tory party’s unity.

Boris Johnson pulls out of UK PM race, Rishi Sunak closer to victory

Source : AFP

Former British Prime Miniter Boris Johnson on Sunday announced that he will not be contesting the Conservative Party leadership race, with frontrunner Rishi Sunak moving a step closer to being elected Britain’s first Indian-origin prime minister. In a statement, Johnson said he had "cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations", but came to the conclusion that "this is simply not the right time".

“I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds,” Johnson said. “I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”.

“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,” he added.

The UK PM post front runner, Rishi Sunak praised the former Prime Minister and wished Johnson to contribute to public life at home and abroad. 

"Boris Johnson delivered Brexit and the great vaccine roll-out. He led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced, and then took on Putin and his barbaric war in Ukraine. We will always be grateful to him for that," he tweeted.

"Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad," his tweet added.

1/ Boris Johnson delivered Brexit and the great vaccine roll-out.

He led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced, and then took on Putin and his barbaric war in Ukraine.

We will always be grateful to him for that.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 23, 2022

Johnson, who formally had not announced his candidacy yet, had the public backing of around 59 Tory MPs, including some high-profile cabinet members.

It now remains to be seen which way that support would be divided between British Indian former chancellor Rishi Sunak, who leads the nominations among Tory MPs with around 144 supporters, and Penny Mordaunt with around 23 publicly declared backers.

If the party MPs unite behind a single candidate, that candidate will be declared the Tory leader and prime minister by Monday evening.

However, if there are two candidates, the Tory membership will get an online vote and the successor to Liz Truss will be declared on Friday.

(With PTI Inputs)