Boris Johnson has pulled out of the Conservative leadership race.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of CommonsThis leaves the race open for former chancellor Rishi Sunak who leads nominations among Tory MPs, with 144 supporters.
"I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago - and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now. "I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 - and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow.
"But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.
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