Boris Johnson Has Pulled Out Of The Conservative Leadership Race. But It Isn’t That Simple

Boris Johnson is no more a candidate for the British prime minister. In a statement released at the eleventh hour, the former prime minister said it was the “right thing to do” and that “you can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party.”

Just moments before his statement, his backers claimed that Johnson had enough support, the necessary hundred votes, but in reality, The Pavlovic Today was told, he was just over half of what was needed. 

“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,” stated Johnson. “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.”

Some of the Conservative cabinet members who supported Johnson are Jacob Rees-Mogg, James Cleverly, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Nadhim Zahawi, Alok Sharma, Simon Clarke and Chris-Heaton Harris. After Boris Johnson has pulled out, Nadhim Zahawi switched his support to Rishi Sunak.

A third of all Conservative MPs have already backed Rishi Sunak publicly in his plan to lead the country with “integrity, professionalism and accountability.” Before Johnson has pulled out, Rishi was already able to secure more than the required backing of 100 fellow MPs. Sunak is running on a platform to fix the economy, unite the party and deliver for the country.

Now that Jonson is out, the path to victory may look clear for Sunak, but some sources say that “stocking horse” Penny Mordaunt can still side with Johnson. That, at least, is what Johnson’s campaign counts on.

“I am very confident about the progress we’re making and I will say to you that I am in this to win it. I think it’s important for our party that we have a contest, and I’m very confident about our numbers. The reason why I’m doing this is because I think I am best placed to bring the party together,” said Mordaunt.

Where her confidence comes from is still being determined, given that during the first leadership race this past summer, she did not make it into the final two. 

“I was a minister before Rishi Sunak was even elected to parliament,” said Mordaunt despite the fact that only 25 MPs publicly declared support for her.

Sunak’s campaign has momentum right now, and he could become the prime minister in less than a week unless Boris and Mordaunt call on the membership to not vote for Rishi.

The UK is going through a financial crisis and needs someone who can help the country out of it. Whoever becomes the next conservative leader and prime minister will have the cost of living crisis at the top of their agenda. Or else.