UK PM Race LIVE Updates: With Boris Johnson Out, Rishi Sunak May Become Prime Minister Today with 140+ MPs Backing Him

Boris Johnson ended his bid to return to power in a move no one saw coming. The surprise decision, which the former PM said had been made reluctantly after recognising that he would not be leading “a united party in parliament", per AFP.

The dramatic announcement gives his political rival Rishi Sunak the edge, almost making him the clear winner in this latest edition of UK Game of Thrones after former PM Liz Truss’ disastrous 44 days in office. Sunak now faces off with his only opponent Penny Mordaunt who does not have the numbers Sunak does.

The PM announcement could as soon as Monday, according to several media reports. As it stands, Sunak has raced ahead in the count for Tory MPs’ support. He currently boasts the public backing of 146 Tory lawmakers, according to a BBC tally. The publicly declared support for Johnson was at 57, and 23 for Mordaunt.

Here are the LIVE Updates of the UK PM Race:

• Will Rishi Sunak be Announced as UK PM Tonight? Here’s All You Need to Know About the Leadership Race

Rishi Sunak was in the lead in the weekend commanding the support of 155 MPs, the BBC reported while Penny Mordaunt had the support of 25MPs. There are 357 Tory MPs and as mentioned above only 180 have gone public regarding who they shall support. There were more than 50 MPs who supported the former PM Boris Johnson but he has now backed out of the race. READ MORE

• Boris Johnson’s statement on ending his bid for PM.

• In the PM race for the second time in months, British Indian Rishi Sunak is now a household name and a hot favorite to replace Liz Truss as the next Prime Minister of UK. Despite growing inflation and skyrocketing price rises in UK, Sunak and his family have largely remained undeterred. READ MORE
• ‘Believe this is Not the Right Time’: Why Did Boris Johnson Bow Out Despite Claiming Support of 102 MPs? READ FULL STORY HERE
• Liz Truss had earlier this week announced her resignation as the Prime Minister after just 45 days in office, following an open revolt against her leadership in the Conservative Party. “I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems,” said Sunak, in his latest campaign pitch, with reference to the economic turmoil he would be inheriting if he does go on to succeed Truss following a disastrous tax-cutting mini-budget last month.
• Rishi Sunak is one step closer as the clear frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership race on Monday to be elected Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister. The prospect of a Diwali victory for Sunak cannot be ruled out.The 42-year-old former chancellor, who said he wanted to fix UK’s economy, unite the party and deliver for the country when he declared his candidacy, has held a solid lead in the contest having comfortably surpassed the 100-MPs threshold to make the shortlist in time for the 1400 local time Monday deadline.

• New UK PM Announcement Likely Today:
  6:30 PM to 7 PM IST: Candidates with nominations from at least 100 MPs to be announced
  10:30 PM IST: First Ballot result to be announced
  1:30 AM IST: Second Ballot result to be announced
• Rishi Sunak reacted to Boris Johnson ending his bid to run for PM. Sunak Tweeted:

• After ending his re-election bid, Boris Johnson, 58, said he had reached out to both Sunak and cabinet member Penny Mordaunt — who launched her leadership campaign on Friday — to “come together in the national interest".
• Boris Johnson’s attempt at political resurrection, while drawing significant cabinet and party backing, had also stirred opposition within his own party.
• What Boris Johnson said after surprise decision to pull out of PM race. READ HERE
• Penny Mordaunt, 49, who missed out on the last contest’s run-off by just eight MPs’ votes, will now come under pressure to concede rather than force the contest to a vote of members, reports AFP.

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