Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson quit the government leadership race on Sunday saying he has the necessary support but “it just wouldn’t be the right thing to do”.
Johnson’s return was something that had been speculated on in recent days, even if the politician had not officially announced it.
One of Johnson’s staunchest supporters, Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, had launched a social media campaign to bring him back to Downing Street, home to the British Prime Minister’s residence and office, and dozens of Conservative MPs later publicly expressed their support.
the former chancellor Rishi Sunak and the head of the House of Commons, Penny MordauntI’m still in contention.
In a statement, Johnson said there was “a very good chance” that he would be able to “return to Downing Street”.
Johnson said he was drawn to the competition, but that he must prioritize the unity of the Conservative partyto which it belongs.
“I led our party to a massive election victory less than three years ago, and I think I am therefore in a unique position to avoid a general election now,” he said.
“I believe I am in a good position to take a Conservative victory in 2024, and tonight I can confirm that I have overcome the very high obstacle of 102 nominations, including a supporter and a second, and I could submit my application tomorrow“, He continued.
“There is every chance that I will succeed in elections with Conservative Party members and that I will be able to return to Downing Street on Friday. But over the past few days, sadly, I have come to the conclusion that this would not be fair.”
“You can’t govern effectively if you don’t have a united party in Parliament.”
Johnson said he communicated with both Sunak and Mordaunt because he hoped the three could meet “in the national interest”. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a way to do it,” he said.
“This is why I fear that the best thing is not to let my candidacy go on and I entrust my support to whoever wins”.
“I think I have a lot to offer, but I’m afraid it’s not the right time,” he concluded.
Johnson is still under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Committee, which could, in theory, lead to his suspension from Parliament or even expulsion as an MP.
Sunak, the preferred candidate
Although Sunak continues to be the favorite, sources close to the former foreign minister said they were taking “nothing for granted”.
“Rishi will continue to speak with his colleagues tomorrow morning (Monday) before the nomination papers arrive and will discuss the best way to unite the party and move the country forward,” a source told the BBC.
According to the BBC tally from public statements, Sunak has the support of 153 MPs, while Mordaunt has the support of 25.
Candidates need the approval of at least 100 MPs to advance in the vote.
Applications close at 14:00 local time (1300 GMT) on Monday.
The election within the Conservative Party of a new prime minister in the UK follows the resignation of Liz Truss last Thursday, who took over the government on 6 September.
Truss stepped down after being forced out of most of her political platform for scaring the financial markets.
Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate it to not miss our best content.
