Boris Johnson had enough nominations from Conservative MPs to mount a challenge to Rishi Sunak in last month’s race to become Tory party leader and UK prime minister, a senior Tory MP has said.
Johnson dramatically pulled out of the contest on Oct. 23, saying he had secured enough nominations but admitting he would not be able to unite the party even if he succeeded to replace Liz Truss as prime minister.
Sunak became prime minister after the only other candidate—Penny Mordaunt—failed to secure the backing of 100 Tory MPs to enter the ballot.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister’s Questions at the House of Commons in London on Nov. 2, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Speaking to the BBC on Nov. 3, Sir Graham Brady—chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs—said “two candidates” had reached the threshold, and “one of them decided not to then submit his nomination.”…