Boris Johnson has dropped out of the race to succeed Liz Truss as UK Prime Minister

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson He announced Sunday that he has decided not to run in the primaries to replace her Les Truss as a leader for The Conservative Party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Johnson said in a statement that while he had the necessary support from Tory MPs, he concluded it “would not be the right thing to do” because “you cannot govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament.”

As shown, He secured the support of 102 Tory MPs, two too many to get to those first, whose deadline to do so was Monday. 2:00 pm local time (1:00 pm GMT).

“In recent days, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have suggested that I should once again challenge the leadership of the Conservative Party, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament,” he said in his statement. The politician, who resigned last July, admitted that he was lured back to power by the electoral victory his squad got in the 2019 general elections, but stressed that the government must now focus on the economic problems facing families in the United States. kingdom.

“But I have come to the conclusion that this would not be the right thing to do. You cannot govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament.”

Johnson also indicated that he had contacted the other candidates, the former economy minister Rishi Sunak Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, Penny Mordauntbecause he had hoped to unite them in the national interest, but “unfortunately we could not find a way to do so”.

“So I’m afraid I’d better not let my candidacy go ahead and commit my support to whoever succeeds. I think I have a lot to offer, but I’m afraid this is not the time.”

According to media estimates, Sunak has 144 backing while Mordaunt has 24.

The so-called 1922 Committee, which includes MPs without cabinet positions, orchestrated the process after Liz Truss resigned Thursday from her position as Conservative leader and prime minister as a result of controversy over her fiscal program – with tax cuts – that caused unrest. in the financial markets.

Johnson resigned last July after several members of his executive board resigned as a result of controversy over parties at the official residence in Downing Street during the pandemic.

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