Mr Boris Johnson, who was
the bookies' favourite to succeed David Cameron and was expected to throw his
hat into the ring, made the shock announcement after fellow Brexiteer Michael
Gove put himself forward as a leadership contender.
Boris Johnson has ruled
himself out of the race to be the next Tory leader and Prime Minister saying,
"that person cannot be me".
His decision to bat for the
Leave campaign was seen by many as a political gamble which, if successful,
would have seen him replace his former Eton chum as Prime Minister.
In a news conference just
moments before the midday deadline for nominations, Mr Johnson said the next
Tory leader would have to unite the party and country.
Citing his own credentials,
Mr Johnson said he was immensely proud of what his team had achieved in the
capital at City Hall.
He said the UK's Brexit
vote was a chance for the country's next leader to "restore Britain's
standing as an independent sovereign" and "our moment to stand tall
in the world".
But then he added: "My
friends, you have waited for the punchline of this speech. "Having consulted colleagues and in view
of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me."
There were audible gasps
from Tory MPs and journalists in the room as he made the revelation.
Moments later, Graham
Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of senior Tory backbench MPs, confirmed
Mr Gove, Home Secretary Theresa May, former defence secretary Liam Fox, Work
and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and Andrea Leadsom as the official leadership
contenders.
The first sign of any
tension between Mr Gove and Mr Johnson was exposed in an email from the Justice
Secretary's wife, journalist Sarah Vine, who warned her husband about the risks
of backing the former London mayor without "specific assurances"
about his role in any Johnson-led Cabinet.
This was cemented when Mr
Gove took a swipe at Mr Johnson when he declared his intention to stand in the
contest, saying: "Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team
for the task ahead."
There was also a cutting
dig at Mr Johnson by Mrs May during her leadership launch, as she cited her
negotiating experience for future Brexit talks.
"Boris negotiated in
Europe," she said.
"The last time he did
a deal with the Germans he came back with three nearly new water cannon,"
she added, referring to his 2014 purchases which she refused to authorise the
use of last year.
Justice Minister Dominic
Raab who backed the joint ticket of a Mr Johnson bid supported by Mr Gove, said
the ex-London mayor's "cavalier" attitude had scuppered the plan.
The party needed a
"unity figure who can bring people together and ultimately put a team
together", he told Sky News.
What a shame
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