LONDON: Rishi Sunak looks set to be Britain’s next prime minister after Boris Johnson withdrew from the race on Sunday, saying that while there was enough support to put up a final vote, he saw the country and the Conservatives need unity.
Johnson ran home from a Caribbean holiday to try and secure the backing of 100 lawmakers to run for Monday’s election instead. Liz TrussThe woman succeeded him in September after he was forced to quit his job due to a series of scandals.
He said he had secured the support of 102 lawmakers and may have “returned to Downing Street”, but he has failed to convince Sunak or another opponent Penny Mordauntto come together “for the national interest”.
“I believe I have a lot to offer but I fear this is simply not the right time,” Johnson said late Sunday.
The former prime minister secured the public support of just under 60 Conservative lawmakers on Sunday, less than half of the nearly 150 endorsements Sunak has received.
The pound rose more than half a cent against the dollar in early Asian trading.
Johnson’s announcement could pave the way for his arch-rival, 42-year-old former finance minister Sunak, to become prime minister, possibly as early as Monday. If confirmed, he will replace Truss, who was forced to resign after she launched an economic program that caused turmoil in financial markets.
Under the rules, if just one candidate secures the support of 100 Conservative lawmakers, they will be appointed prime minister on Monday.
If the two candidates pass this threshold, they will advance to the party vote, with the winner announced on Friday, just days before new finance minister Jeremy Hunt reveals the state of his finances. of the country in an upcoming budget plan. on October 31st.
That has raised fears that Johnson will return to Downing Street with the backing of party members, rather than a majority of lawmakers in parliament, leaving the party heavily divided. Hunt announced his support for Sunak late on Sunday.
Some Johnson supporters may turn to Mordaunt, who has presented himself as the unification candidate, but many immediately turn to Sunak. A source close to the Mordaunt campaign said the former defense secretary will continue to run for the election.
“She’s the unionist candidate most likely to hold the wings of the Conservative Party together,” the source said.
Tear yourself apart
Johnson has risen to prominence in British politics since he became mayor of London in 2008 and went on to become the face of the Brexit vote in 2016. While he led the Conservative Party to an election elected in 2019, he was forced out of his job just three years later by a rebellion by his ministers.
Sunak said he hopes Johnson will continue to contribute to public life “at home and abroad”.
One Sunak supporter, who asked not to be named, said his main reaction was relief because if Johnson wins “the party will disintegrate on its own”.
Another Conservative lawmaker Lucy Allan said on Twitter: “I support Boris for Prime Minister, but I think he did the right thing for the country.”
Other Johnson supporters immediately jumped ship.
Cabinet Office Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who a few minutes earlier had published an article in the Daily Telegraph praising Johnson, said that “a day is a long time in politics”.
“Rishi is incredibly talented, will command a strong majority in the Conservative Party of parliament, and will have my full support and loyalty,” he said.
Earlier, many Conservative lawmakers, who normally support Johnson had turned to support Sunak, saying the country needed a period of stability after months of unrest that had made headlines – and caused warning – around the world.
Johnson is also still facing a privilege committee investigation into whether he misled parliament about Downing Street parties during the COVID-19 lockdown. He could be forced to resign or be suspended from office if found guilty.
Sunak first came to national attention when, at the age of 39, he became finance minister under Johnson as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic reached Britain, developing a powerful plan to support millions through many closing period.
“I have served as your prime minister, helping steer our economy through the most difficult times,” Sunak said in a statement Sunday. “The challenges we face now are even greater. But the opportunities – if we choose right – are phenomenal.”
If selected, Sunak would be the first Indian-born prime minister in the UK.
His family immigrated to England in the 1960s, a period when many people from the former British colonies came to help rebuild the country after World War II.
After graduating from Oxford University, he then went to Stanford University, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd.
Johnson ran home from a Caribbean holiday to try and secure the backing of 100 lawmakers to run for Monday’s election instead. Liz TrussThe woman succeeded him in September after he was forced to quit his job due to a series of scandals.
He said he had secured the support of 102 lawmakers and may have “returned to Downing Street”, but he has failed to convince Sunak or another opponent Penny Mordauntto come together “for the national interest”.
“I believe I have a lot to offer but I fear this is simply not the right time,” Johnson said late Sunday.
The former prime minister secured the public support of just under 60 Conservative lawmakers on Sunday, less than half of the nearly 150 endorsements Sunak has received.
The pound rose more than half a cent against the dollar in early Asian trading.
Johnson’s announcement could pave the way for his arch-rival, 42-year-old former finance minister Sunak, to become prime minister, possibly as early as Monday. If confirmed, he will replace Truss, who was forced to resign after she launched an economic program that caused turmoil in financial markets.
Under the rules, if just one candidate secures the support of 100 Conservative lawmakers, they will be appointed prime minister on Monday.
If the two candidates pass this threshold, they will advance to the party vote, with the winner announced on Friday, just days before new finance minister Jeremy Hunt reveals the state of his finances. of the country in an upcoming budget plan. on October 31st.
That has raised fears that Johnson will return to Downing Street with the backing of party members, rather than a majority of lawmakers in parliament, leaving the party heavily divided. Hunt announced his support for Sunak late on Sunday.
Some Johnson supporters may turn to Mordaunt, who has presented himself as the unification candidate, but many immediately turn to Sunak. A source close to the Mordaunt campaign said the former defense secretary will continue to run for the election.
“She’s the unionist candidate most likely to hold the wings of the Conservative Party together,” the source said.
Tear yourself apart
Johnson has risen to prominence in British politics since he became mayor of London in 2008 and went on to become the face of the Brexit vote in 2016. While he led the Conservative Party to an election elected in 2019, he was forced out of his job just three years later by a rebellion by his ministers.
Sunak said he hopes Johnson will continue to contribute to public life “at home and abroad”.
One Sunak supporter, who asked not to be named, said his main reaction was relief because if Johnson wins “the party will disintegrate on its own”.
Another Conservative lawmaker Lucy Allan said on Twitter: “I support Boris for Prime Minister, but I think he did the right thing for the country.”
Other Johnson supporters immediately jumped ship.
Cabinet Office Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who a few minutes earlier had published an article in the Daily Telegraph praising Johnson, said that “a day is a long time in politics”.
“Rishi is incredibly talented, will command a strong majority in the Conservative Party of parliament, and will have my full support and loyalty,” he said.
Earlier, many Conservative lawmakers, who normally support Johnson had turned to support Sunak, saying the country needed a period of stability after months of unrest that had made headlines – and caused warning – around the world.
Johnson is also still facing a privilege committee investigation into whether he misled parliament about Downing Street parties during the COVID-19 lockdown. He could be forced to resign or be suspended from office if found guilty.
Sunak first came to national attention when, at the age of 39, he became finance minister under Johnson as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic reached Britain, developing a powerful plan to support millions through many closing period.
“I have served as your prime minister, helping steer our economy through the most difficult times,” Sunak said in a statement Sunday. “The challenges we face now are even greater. But the opportunities – if we choose right – are phenomenal.”
If selected, Sunak would be the first Indian-born prime minister in the UK.
His family immigrated to England in the 1960s, a period when many people from the former British colonies came to help rebuild the country after World War II.
After graduating from Oxford University, he then went to Stanford University, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd.
