Johnson is NOT running

[HuzzahIndeed]

Thank god for that.
I guess Sunak is the least bad option then.

He lied when he said he had enough support to stand. He didn't have the 100+ needed and came to realise he wasn't going to get them.

@GodInventedAmazon

Do you hate women that much?

I don't think he ever had anywhere near enough backers and was just lying through his teeth as usual. Also agree that whoever does become PM has a pretty impossible job on their hands and is doomed to failure at the next election. Still, some slight joy in seeing him have to admit in public that the party won't back him again.

I voted YABU for saying Rishi is the 'least bad option' - on what basis is he 'least bad'?
As former Chancellor he's got a better grip on the finances of UK Government spending and saw us through the pandemic (not least with furlough - without which many millions would have gone under)
#RishiforPM should be trending

Why is Sunak the least bad option out of a load of privileged, out of touch, self serving, lying options? Because at least he has a grip of the finances and er... umm... no sorry, that's the only reason I can think of that any of them should be pm.

I do think he's actually quite bright. And it will make lots of Tory racists spit with rage that a brown man is in charge, which can only be a good thing. But the whole lot of them need to go.

It’s probably because Boris knows this is A losing side now. Rishi wont save the party, it s a poisoned chalice. Pretty sure Rishi will fail. Boris will come back - this isn’t the right time.

THANK GOD BJ Is out!

Disgusting man - usual tactics. The whole sending Rees-Mogg et al on the news yesterday to say, " Oh yes.... Boris has most definitely reached the 100 vote threshold ..."

Lies and bluster yet again. Sod off back to the Dominican Republic.

The sheer narcissism and arrogance of the man with his "meetings." Did he really think he could persuade RS to be in his cabinet when RS had double the number of confirmed backers? I bet he tried to bribe RS with, "I've got 100, yes, I have really... they're just not saying... when this goes to the Conservative membership, I'll get a landslide... It's in your interests to accept that now... Don't worry, you can be my Chancellor.,,"

We all know full well that if BJ had 100 backers he would never have backed out.

He has made an embarrassing spectacle of himself and hopefully it's the end of him.

eh? Is Penny Mordaunt not a woman?

Mordaunt will throw women under the bus if it comes to self ID in England though.

He’ll be the austerity part 2 PM.

Some may say he had to be, but he’s a disciple of thatcher - he wants to be.

I'm delighted for the short term that Boris is out. (He clearly didn't have the backers).

However, he will be back for the general election I'm sure. Either to stand or to replace Sunak as leader of the opposition.

Lying, odious human being that he is.

I think the most extraordinary thing is that our media still supported and legitimised the prospect of Johnson returning.

Agreed.

Agreed 100%. No way is he finished with us.

The snake has finally won, the party has no credibility left, they will only concentrate on trying to repair the financial damage lt caused and everything else will be forgotton, covid, NhS, all the strikes, energy crisis, Ukraine. I think it was all pre planned an his original resignation started off a series of events that has resulted in this inevitable conclusion.

The only place Boris Johnson should be running is in a prison exercise yard.