Is Boris Johnson running for Prime Minister?
BORIS Johnson is one of the UK’s most high profile politicians and has been tipped by many to become the next Prime Minister.
Here’s everything you need to know about the former London Mayor’s decision to stand for the top job.
Is Boris Johnson running for prime minister?
On May 16, 2019, Boris confirmed he will run for the Tory party leadership contest after Theresa May stands down.
He gave a rallying cry to Eurosceptics, saying: “Of course I’m going to go for it.”
The ex-Foreign Secretary slammed Mrs May for her “lack of grip and dynamism” in EU negotiations.
He said: “All I can say most tactfully and usefully is that I have a pretty boundless appetite now to get it right and to do what I think would help our country to get on the right path.
Johnson has been one of May’s most outspoken critics over Brexit and supports leaving the EU without a deal.
In 2016 after Prime Minister David Cameron resigned following the EU referendum, Boris’ bid for Number 10 was scuppered by Michael Gove who threw his hat in the ring after withdrawing his support for Johnson.
What is the latest about his run for PM?
Sun columnist Trevor Kavanagh said: “Tories must go with Boris Johnson if they want to survive or they’ll end up as dead as a dodo.
“Even sopping wet Remainers can see the writing on the wall and want Theresa May out as fast as possible.”
He is the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed May.
Mrs May plans on resigning after securing her Brexit deal and then she will set out a timetable for a new Tory leadership contest at the party’s annual conference in October.
Mrs May has “resisted calls to set a departure date”, adding supporters of Boris Johnson’s bid for PM “believe that his best chance of winning the contest is for it to be held against the backdrop of a failure to achieve Brexit”.
calls it the “final countdown” and carries the punny headline “May ends in June”.
The Daily Telegraph highlights the emotion of Thursday’s events, carrying the headline “Tory ‘men in grey suits’ tell tearful May her time is up”.
What are the odds of him becoming the next PM?
As of May 17 these are the latest odds.
- William Hill: 5/2
- Ladbrokes: 5/2
- Paddy Power: 9/4