Britain’s Boris Johnson dramatically ended an audacious bid to return to power within weeks of having been ousted, announcing he would not run to replace outgoing leader Liz Truss.
The surprise decision, which the ex-leader says he had reached reluctantly after recognizing he would not lead a united party in parliament, removes a major obstacle to his political foe, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, becoming prime minister.
Johnson says he had reached out to both Sunak and cabinet member Penny Mordaunt to come together in the national interest.