October 24, (THEWILL) – Rishi Sunak appeared set to emerge as the new British Prime Minister after former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, dropped out of the Tory leadership race.
Sunak, a former chancellor, had pulled more than double the number of publicly-declared supporters than Johnson.
As of Sunday evening, 228 out of 357 Tory MPs have gone public with their support.
Sunak is understood to have secured 147 backers, Johnson 57 public supporters and Penny Mordaunt, just 24.
Johnson, though, has claimed he in fact reached the ‘very high hurdle of 102 nominations,’ but has bowed out of the race because it is ‘simply not the right thing to do.’
He said: “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 few 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.
“I believe I have much to offer, but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”
Reports also claimed that Penny Mordaunt, who is now Sunak’s only rival in the leadership bid, has rebuffed attempts by Johnson to get her to drop out of the race in a phone call.
Mordaunt has so far failed to secure the 100 backers threshold.
She is reported to have told Johnson that the majority of her supporters were more likely to have switched to Team Sunak, rather than backing his return to the premiership.
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