Boris Johnson Opts Out Of UK PM Race

Boris Johnson pulled out of the race to succeed Liz Truss as Britain’s prime minister on Sunday evening, Oct. 23, 2022, leaving Rishi Sunak, his former chancellor of the Exchequer, with a commanding lead in the contest to be Britain’s next leader, Mark Landler reported for the New York Times.

Photo Insert: Johnson said he believed he had a path to victory in the contest to replace Truss but admitted “I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do.”

Johnson said he believed he had a path to victory in the contest to replace Truss but admitted “I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do.”

His retreat was welcomed by MP Steve Baker, who told Sophy Ridge of Sky News that “Boris Johnson would be a guaranteed disaster. We cannot allow it to happen.”

Sunak, who formally declared his candidacy with a promise to “fix our economy,” had lined up at least 146 votes by late Sunday afternoon, according to a tally by the BBC, more than double the 57 votes pledged to Johnson.

Beyond the numerical advantage, Sunak picked up multiple endorsements from people on the Conservative Party’s right flank. On Sunday morning, Baker, a lawmaker who represents an influential group of euro-skeptics in Parliament, announced he would support Sunak.

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