Boris Johnson who resigned on July 7 from the post of UK Prime Minister has urged his party allies to back “anyone but Rishi Sunak” as the race to become next Prime Minister speeds up. India-origin Sunak had won most votes (88) in the first round of voting to become the frontrunner for the position.
Johnson’s urge to the defeated Tory leadership comes amid the reports of Sunak being widely blamed for Johnson’s lack in support along with his own party leaders.
Mr Johnson who said that he will not interfere in the ongoing contest or endorse any leadership candidate is now being seen as holding talks with the failed contenders and told them Sunak does not become the next Prime Minister.
According to a source, the present Prime Minister was most centred over Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, supported by his cabinet allies Nadine Dorries ans Jocob Rees-Mogg.
Mr Johnson is also okay for Penny Mordaunt, junior trade minister to succeed him.
Claims of Prime Minister Johnson and his supporters running a hidden campaign to persuade leaders to back “anyone but Rishi” after being betrayed over the former Chancellor’s resignation which led to his resignation.
“The whole No.10 [Downing Street] team hates Rishi. It’s personal. It’s vitriolic. They don’t blame Saj [Sajid Javid] for bringing him down. They blame Rishi. They think he was planning this for months,” a media reported citing a source.
The frontrunner Rishi Sunak in the race to become next UK Prime Minister won in the first two rounds of voting by the Tory members of Parliament. He will now be seen in televised debates at the weekend with his opponents – Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat, Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt and former minister Kemi Badenoch.
Meanwhile, Sunak’s supporters brought down the claims that his strong support does not go beyond the Tory MPs.
“I think he really will start to connect and hopefully we can move away and offer a positive vision rather than this Conservative-on-Conservative attacks, which I really don’t like,” Richard Holden, a Tory backbench MP said supporting Sunak.
