To great surprise, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that he was withdrawing from the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
“I have enough votes, but I have come to the conclusion that I should not run,” Johnson said.
He added: “The best thing I can do right now is not to continue running and I promise to support those who succeed. I believe I have a lot to offer, but it’s just not the right move.”
He also added that he “will give up the fight in favor of the unity of the Conservative Party, despite the fact that he believes that he is well placed to lead the party to a new victory in the 2024 general election.”
With Johnson gone, the door remains open for former UK Treasury Secretary Rishi Sunak, who leads the Conservative nomination with 144 supporters.
Conservative lawmakers wishing to enter the race must enlist the support of 100 colleagues by 2 p.m. Monday.
Notably, Liz Truss was forced to step down after just six weeks into office due to the turmoil caused by her financial market policies.
