Boris Johnson refuses to back any Conservative leadership contenders

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would not back any contender in the Conservative leadership race during the waning weeks of his tenure.

"There's a contest underway and it's happened, and I wouldn't want to damage anybody's chances by offering my support," Johnson told Sky News.

The 58-year-old said it was his job to oversee the election process in the coming weeks after he tendered his resignation on Thursday.

"I'm determined to get on and deliver the mandate that was given to us, but my job is really just to oversee the process in the next few weeks, and I'm sure that the outcome will be good," the Prime Minister considered.

It seems that the public has to think about a replacement for #BorisJohnson in case he is ousted, especially after the many rapid resignations his troubled government is facing. pic.twitter.com/NIrzrFf3JP

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 6, 2022

Johnson will stay in office until a replacement is found. His departure follows a series of scandals that led several ministers to quit last week.

Eleven candidates are now competing for his job, including former Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and ex-head of the Treasury Rishi Sunak.

On the other hand, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, one of the frontrunners to succeed Johnson, had announced that he would not compete in the leadership election.

It is noteworthy that the Tory party's 1922 Committee would set a timetable for a leadership contest. For a Tory MP to enter the race for prime minister, they should be nominated by eight colleagues.

If more than one MP wanted to run as prime minister, a series of secret ballots would be held to settle for one Tory nominee.