יום חמישי, 30 ביוני 2016

Boris Johnson not running for Tory leader and PM

 
‘That person cannot be me,’ says Johnson in surprise announcement.

Boris Johnson will not run for the post of Conservative Party leader and U.K. prime minister, he announced on Thursday, saying he preferred to support the next Tory government and “stick up for the forgotten people of this country.”

The former London mayor’s surprise decision followed the equally unexpected announcement earlier on Thursday that his fellow Leave campaigner Michael Gove, the justice secretary, was throwing his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership.



After laying out his vision for an inclusive country that welcomed immigrants and would have greater influence around the world thanks to last week’s vote to leave the EU, Johnson dropped a bombshell by saying: “Having consulted colleagues, and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot by me.”

“My role will be to give every possible support to the next conservative administration,” said Johnson.

Gove said he had decided to run for leader on his own, rather than backing Johnson, because “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”

Gove acknowledged that he had repeatedly claimed that he did not want to be prime minister, but said that “events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me.”

Cracks in the Gove-Johnson alliance first became apparent when an email sent by Gove’s wife Sarah Vine leaked Wednesday. The email, intended for Gove, urged her husband to seek specific assurances about his future role before announcing his support for a Johnson candidacy.

U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, another Leave campaigner, also announced their intention to run.

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