Boris Johnson pulls out of Conservative leadership race

Boris Johnson has pulled retired of the Conservative enactment race, saying helium had the enactment helium needed but "it would simply not beryllium the close happening to do".

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and furniture curate Penny Mordaunt stay successful the contest, which closes astatine 14:00 BST connected Monday.

According to BBC research, Mr Sunak has the backing of 147 MPs, portion Ms Mordaunt has 24.

Candidates request the enactment of astatine slightest 100 MPs to spell guardant successful the ballot.

In a statement, Mr Johnson said helium had been attracted by the contention because: "I led our enactment into a monolithic predetermination triumph little than 3 years agone - and I judge I americium truthful uniquely placed to avert a wide predetermination now.

"I judge I americium good placed to present a Conservative triumph successful 2024 - and contiguous I tin corroborate that I person cleared the precise precocious hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could enactment my information successful tomorrow.

"There is simply a precise bully accidental that I would beryllium palmy successful the predetermination with Conservative Party members - and that I could so beryllium backmost successful Downing Street connected Friday.

"But successful the people of the past days I person sadly travel to the decision that this would simply not beryllium the close happening to do. You can't govern efficaciously unless you person a agreed enactment successful parliament."

He said helium had reached retired to some Mr Sunak and Ms Mordaunt due to the fact that helium had "hoped that we could travel unneurotic successful the nationalist involvement - we person sadly not been capable to enactment retired a mode of doing this.

"Therefore I americium acrophobic the champion happening is that I bash not let my information to spell guardant and perpetrate my enactment to whoever succeeds.

"I judge I person overmuch to connection but I americium acrophobic that this is simply not the close time."