Ex-London mayor won't run for Conservative Party leadership

Vote Leave campaigner Boris Johnson arrives for a press conference at Vote Leave headquarters in London Friday June 24, 2016. Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron announced Friday that he will quit as Prime Minister following a defeat in the referendum which ended with a vote for Britain to leave the European Union. (Mary Turner/Pool via AP)
Vote Leave campaigner Boris Johnson arrives for a press conference at Vote Leave headquarters in London Friday June 24, 2016. Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron announced Friday that he will quit as Prime Minister following a defeat in the referendum which ended with a vote for Britain to leave the European Union. (Mary Turner/Pool via AP)

LONDON — The race to become Britain's next prime minister took a turn Thursday as former London Mayor Boris Johnson — popular with the public and widely considered to be a front-runner — ruled himself out of contention after the defection of a key ally.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove abruptly withdrew his support for Johnson and announced he would run for the Conservative Party leadership himself.

Johnson, a prominent campaigner for Britain's withdrawal from the 28-nation European Union, then told a news conference that the next Conservative leader would need to unite the party and ensure Britain's standing in the world.

"Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me," he said.

Johnson's decision to break with longtime ally Prime Minister David Cameron and back the "leave" side in Britain's EU referendum seemed to have paid off last week, when Cameron resigned after voters decided 52 to 48 percent to exit the bloc.

Cameron's resignation triggered a Conservative leadership race. By Thursday afternoon, the nominating period had ended, leaving five candidates: Home Secretary Theresa May, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom and former Defense Secretary Liam Fox, in addition to Gove.

Conservative lawmakers will choose two finalists and then more than 100,000 party members select the winner by a postal ballot, to be announced on Sept. 9

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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