Boris Johnson pulls out of race to become UK prime minister

British media is reporting that former prime minister Boris Johnson is dropping his bid to once again be in office

Oct 24, 2022 - 05:19
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Boris Johnson pulls out of race to become UK prime minister

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has withdrawn his bid to once again hold office. The news comes just a day after it was reported that Johnson cut his Caribbean vacation short to contest for the coveted post on Downing Street, following the resignation of Liz Truss.

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Now Britain’s PA Media is reporting that Boris Johnson has declined to run again for prime minister, despite having apparently garnered the support of 100 MPs – the minimum number required to clear the threshold to appear on the ballot for the Conservative Party membership.

Johnson said running for office again would simply not be the right thing to do, given the division that has arisen from news of his possible candidacy.

Former finance minister Rishi Sunak officially entered the race to lead the Conservative Party, his second attempt at the position this year. Sunak first ran alongside Truss after Johnson’s resignation.

Truss resigned on Thursday, 20 October 2022, after just six weeks in Downing Street. Her term in office plunged Britain into utter political and economic turmoil. Whoever takes over from her would be the fifth prime minister  to lead the country since it voted for Brexit in 2016.

“Given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party,” Truss said.