Boris Johnson withdraws his candidacy for Prime Minister. The main architect of Brexit and "moral winner" of the referendum of 23 June renounced the seat occupied by David Cameron, leaving the Minister of Justice Michael Gove and the Minister of the Interior Theresa May the burden of contending for the leadership of the United Kingdom and above all Great Britain out of the European Union.
“I cannot offer the necessary leadership and unity” the former Mayor of London said surprisingly, definitively closing the issue. Statements that no one expected after the campaign in favor of Leave and above all the about-face against Cameron.
"After consulting with my colleagues and considering the circumstances in Parliament, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot be the new leader." And among the "colleagues" consulted there could also be Micheal Gove, number two of the pro-brexit campaign who decided to take the field at the last moment, attacking Johnson head-on: "I don't think he has the qualities to be prime minister". This is the minister's statement defined by the BBC, and by some members of the Conservative Party, as a real "stab in the back".
The withdrawal of Boris Johnson from the race for Prime Minister totally reshuffles the cards, leaving the way cleared for Theresa May who, based on a survey carried out by the Times, had already accumulated a 17-point lead over the former mayor of the capital. Supporter of Remain and ally of Cameron, May will have to contend with Michael Gove, until yesterday considered the outsider of the group. The numbers seem to be all in favor of the first, which means that a truly paradoxical situation could arise: she will be a supporter of "Remain" to take the UK out of the European Union. In any case, there will be no step back. The interior minister has already reassured the Tory electorate: “Brexit means Brexit. The country has voted to leave the EU and there can be no attempt to go back from this choice, nor to organize a second referendum".
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that Gove and May are not the only candidates in the running. Competing for the leadership of the Tories and the role of Prime Minister could also be: Stephan Crabb, already officially candidate, Minister of Work and Pensions, Nicky Morgan, Minister of Education and Jeremy Hunt, Minister of Health.
