Michael Gove will contest the Conservative Party leadership and will no longer back Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, for the top job, he announced in a statement Thursday.
Gove, the U.K.’s justice secretary, said he decided to run on his own, rather than back Johnson, because “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”
Gove, who has been credited with lending gravitas to the Leave campaign, acknowledged in in a statement that he had repeatedly said he did not want to be prime minister, but added that “events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me.”
Cracks in the Gove-Johnson alliance became apparent when an email sent by Gove’s wife Sarah Vine leaked Wednesday. The email, intended for her husband, urged him to seek specific assurances from Johnson before announcing his backing for Johnson’s bid to take over the party.
Andrea Leadsom, another prominent Leave Tory, announced she too would run for the Conservative leadership Thursday.
Delighted to say I'm running for the @Conservatives Leadership.
Let's make the most of the Brexit opportunities!#FreshStart
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) June 30, 2016
Michael Gove’s statement in full:
“The British people voted for change last Thursday. They sent us a clear instruction that they want Britain to leave the European Union and end the supremacy of EU law. They told us to restore democratic control of immigration policy and to spend their money on national priorities such as health, education and science instead of giving it to Brussels. They rejected politics as usual and government as usual. They want and need a new approach to running this country.
There are huge challenges ahead for this country but also huge opportunities. We can make this country stronger and fairer. We have a unique chance to heal divisions, give everyone a stake in the future and set an example as the most creative, innovative and progressive country in the world.
If we are to make the most of the opportunities ahead we need a bold break with the past.
I have repeatedly said that I do not want to be Prime Minister. That has always been my view. But events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me.
I respect and admire all the candidates running for the leadership. In particular, I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future.
But I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.
I have, therefore, decided to put my name forward for the leadership. I want there to be an open and positive debate about the path the country will now take. Whatever the verdict of that debate I will respect it. In the next few days I will lay out my plan for the United Kingdom which I hope can provide unity and change.”