Boris Stands Down

[FatticusInch]

Just breaking on BBC

[Peter Pedant]

Came back from hols for a viewing, saw the state of it and decided he doesn't want to lead the mess.
no

Came back from hols for a viewing, saw the mess of it for which he as solely responsible and decided he doesn't want to "lead " anyone which was kinda lucky as he had never led them before.

He later said to his third wife - the other two still living
and mother of some ( a minority) of his children,
I need skills of dissembling, lying and deceiving, that really only the Bishop of Rome possesses

and Carrie screams my god you're becoming a Benedictine ?
yout bottom wont last a week ! .....

[FatticusInch]

His statement:

In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament. 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.
A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the Government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country. 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.
There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. 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.

And though I have reached out to both Rishi (Sunak) and Penny (Mordaunt) - because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest - we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this. Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. "I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time."

Reading between the lines:
Me, me, aren’t I great, I would have won you another election.
Me, me, if it was up to the party I’d clearly beat the backstabber.
Blame Penny and Rishi for me not coming back.
Me, me.

Accurate?

[jno]

///In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership///

... almost into double figures...

[archibaldy]

// “ If true this country is screwed for the foreseeable future.”

Why do people think this? //

I don't know, but following their logic it's now Boris' fault the country is screwed.

[pimplyteen]

Spot on, Fatt

[Paigntonian]

'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'.
Liar to the very end.

[ichkeria]

Exactly

[Zacs-Master]

PMSL at all the sheeple who believed he was actually coming back.

[tomus42]

The thing is, I fear he's right. If it had been put to the members he would have probably won.

God knows what deal, threats, or pleading made him pull out but thank God it happened.

[FatticusInch]

It was never in doubt, though I hoped against hope it might, just to see the implosion of the Conservative Party and furore throughout the UK.
Still, they’ll be apoplectic at Tory HQ if Rishi Rich wins. Lol

[sp1814]

He had mid-fifties earlier today.

And suddenly he doubled his numbers?

Okay.

[naomi24]

Good. No less than expected. Now bow out gracefully, Penny, and let him get on with it.

[Hopkirk]

He couldn't find enough people to fill his cabinet last time. What on earth made him think he could if he got back in? Some MPs would have resigned the whip as well.

[Paigntonian]

Am still trying to understand why, if Johnson had the 102 supporters he claimed, why he wouldn't pursue the leadership. It makes no sense. Therefore, he must be lying about his level of support.

[FatticusInch]

Boris doesn’t tell lies!
He’s just not very good at recalling the truth.

[naomi24]

Fatticusinch, and there you were just a few hours ago saying he had far more support than he was letting on. You are funny, you really are. :o))))

[ichkeria]

102 isn't enough to govern (and I doubt he had even that). - a lot of the people he might have needed in his cabinet were not going to support him and probably would not have rallied to his cause even had he won.
I cannot imagine anything worse for the Tories than the following:
Sunak wins an overwhelming vote fronm MPs
A few days later several thousand "members" some of whom might live abroad and cannot even vote in GEs here, might have gone against that.
A few weeks later, after resignations of the whip by some MPs and a cabinet with Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadim Zahawi and Nadine Dorries doing a fair sharing of of the offices of state, Johnson falls foul of the privileges committe and has to resign ... again
Larry the cat comes to the poor old lectern and announces that King Charles has asked him to form a goverment.
Lots of bullets dodged there ...

[maggiebee]

Thank God for small mercies.

[Paigntonian]

ich: Yes. Just vanity, hubris and selfishness on his part. Where are the Boris loyalists on the site tonight?

[naomi24]

I like Boris. Can I help you, paigntonian?