Rishi Sunak looks set to become UK’s next prime minister after Boris Johnson ended his bid in a surprise decision.
The other contender, Penny Mordaunt, is way off securing the crucial number required to contest the election to replace Liz Truss.
In a surprise move, Boris Johnson, who cut short a holiday in the Caribbean to try and secure the backing of 100 lawmakers to enter Monday’s contest, pulled out of the Conservative Party leadership race on Sunday, saying he would not be able to lead “a united party in parliament”.
Mr Johnson, 58, said that although he could have been “back in Downing Street”, but that he had failed to persuade either Mr Sunak, or Penny Mordaunt, to come together “in the national interest”.
“I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time,” Mr Johnson, 58, said late on Sunday.
Shortly after the announcement, Mr Sunak put out a tweet praising the leadership of his former boss for leading the country through some of the toughest challenges including Brexit, Covid vaccine rollout and the war in Ukraine.
“Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad,” he added.
Mr Johnson’s exit leaves Penny Mordaunt as the only challenger to Rishi Sunak but she is way off securing 100 backers. Ms Mordaunt, who entered the race on Friday, reportedly has the support of 29 MPs.
If Ms Mordaunt fails to garner the support of 100 MPs by 2 pm local time on Monday, Rishi Sunak would automatically become the prime minister.
In India, Mr Sunak has been better known through his wife, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the billionaire co-founder of Infosys Narayana Murthy.