U.K.’s Boris Johnson won't return to office

Britain’s last prime minister said Sunday that he will not run to replace Liz Truss, who announced her resignation from the position on Thursday. Boris Johnson still had popularity with grassroots voters even after stepping down in July amid multiple scandals, and some Conservative members of Parliament supported him, too. Johnson spent the weekend trying to build up more support, but on Sunday night he announced that the time wasn't right to return as prime minister. 

Who else could take Truss’ place? House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt was the first candidate to declare she is running to replace Truss, saying in a tweet that she represented “a fresh start.” Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, who was previously runner-up to Truss, also has broad support among lawmakers. Graham Brady, the chair of the committee that oversees Conservative Party elections, said the party aims to have a new prime minister in office by Oct. 28. Any candidates to replace Truss must have the backing of at least 100 parliamentary members.

Dig deeper: Read Calvin Robinson’s column in WORLD Opinions about Johnson’s fall just months ago.