Boris Johnson pulls out of leadership race: Statement in full

Boris Johnson has ruled himself retired of the contention to beryllium the adjacent Conservative Party person and premier minister. Here is his connection successful full:

In the past fewer days I person been overwhelmed by the fig of radical who suggested that I should erstwhile again contention the Conservative Party leadership, some among the nationalist and among friends and colleagues successful Parliament.

I person been attracted due to the fact that 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.

A wide predetermination would beryllium a further disastrous distraction conscionable erstwhile the Government indispensable absorption connected the economical pressures faced by families crossed the country.

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.

And though I person reached retired to some Rishi (Sunak) and Penny (Mordaunt) - due to the fact that I 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.