The United Kingdom is all set to have its first Prime Minister of Indian origin, Rishi Sunak, as former PM Boris Johnson dropped out of the race, according to UK media reports. Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the Conservative party leadership race despite claiming he had the required support. Johnson said he had come to the conclusion “this would simply not be the right thing to do” as “you can`t govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament,” reported Independent.
He also added that this was due to the failure to reach a deal with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. “I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds,” he said.
Johnson added, “I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.” “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 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,” he continued saying, reported Independent.
It is pertinent to note that Johnson`s campaign team have earlier told supporters they have secured the 100 nominations needed from MPs for the former prime minister to get on the ballot paper.
Johnson landed in Britain on Saturday from a Caribbean holiday which was seemed as a formal bid for the Conservative Party leadership race. Johnson was forced to step down on July 7 following a series of resignations of cabinet members, who protested against his scandal-plagued leadership.