British Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a news briefing as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2022.
Gleb Garanich | Reuters
LONDON — Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson won’t stand within the leadership contest to switch outgoing leader Liz Truss.
Despite being ousted from office just three months ago, some Conservative MPs had backed Johnson for the highest job, and he reportedly told allies during the last couple of days that he would formally join the competition.
Former culture secretary and shut Johnson ally Nadine Dorries tweeted Thursday that he was the one MP with “a mandate from party members and the British public,” having won the 2019 General Election.
Johnson previously enjoyed high levels of recognition until losing credibility in the ultimate months of his premiership amid political scandal around Covid-19 rule-breaking and his links to disgraced MP Chris Pincher.
In his parting speech he alluded to a future return to office with the words: “Hasta la vista, baby” or “so long.”
British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday, bringing to a detailed a temporary 44-day tenure mired by “mini-budget” chaos, economic turmoil and weeks of political infighting.
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