Brexit leader Boris Johnson says he won't succeed David Cameron as prime minister

“He who wields the knife never wears the crown” goes the old saying. Boris Johnson gave it a new stunning dimension Thursday by announcing that he, despite effectively leading Britain’s vote to leave the EU, would not stand to be prime minister. A string of MPs backing him to take over from David Cameron, plus journalists gathered at a London hotel, had expected Johnson to confirm his candidacy after acting as figurehead for the successful Brexit campaign. But at the end of an 11-minute speech trumpeting his achievements as London mayor and outlining his vision for Britain, Boris Johnson dropped his bombshell — he would not stand. The decision by Boris Johnson — who spearheaded the ‘Leave’ campaign — upended the Conservative Party leadership contest and added to deep uncertainty over how the country will split from the 28-nation alliance. Johnson had been widely tipped as a favourite to succeed Cameron, who resigned in the wake of the 23 June referendum and left it to his successor to open formal talks with the EU on Britain’s departure. [caption id=“attachment_2854426” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Conservative leader Boris Johnson. Reuters[/caption] The most likely choice is now Interior Minister Theresa May, who called for “unity” in the deeply divided Conservative Party and said Brexit negotiations should not be started this year. Johnson made his announcement after Brexit ally Michael Gove announced his own bid for the top job, slamming the leadership of the mop-haired politician. “Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I’ve concluded that person (new prime minister) cannot be me,” Johnson said in a speech in London. “You couldn’t make it up,” Conservative MP Nigel Evans told the BBC. “It makes House of Cards look like Teletubbies.” “Isn’t this exciting?” grinned one Tory MP to another as they waited for Johnson — bookmakers’ favourite to be premier as recently as Wednesday — to turn up. Another briefed a journalist on why Cameron’s successor had to be a Brexiteer like Johnson. The charismatic blond entered to whoops and loud applause from supporters and at first showed no sign he would step back from the chance of a job he has reportedly craved for most of his life. He trumpeted his role in making London Europe’s most dynamic city and could not resist a dig at the EU. “More visitors going to the British Museum I’m told than go to the whole of Belgium,” he quipped. “Not that that’s got anything to do with Brussels.” The only indication that he might not stand came with a reference to Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar which only those well versed in the classics like Johnson himself could have picked up. At one point, he seemed to paraphrase a line from the play — in which Brutus kills Caesar and later commits suicide but is hailed as a Roman hero — by saying he would not “fight against the tide of history”. ‘Cannot provide leadership’ After Johnson outlined his vision of Britain’s relationship with the EU after its departure – access to the single market and a points-based immigration system – the crowd was poised for an announcement. It came — but it was not the one they were expecting. “I must tell you my friends, you who have waited patiently for the punchline of this speech, that having consulated colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me,” he said. This provoked cries of “Oh!” and a din of camera shutters as photographers jostled to get their shots. The 52-year-old left the building through a door whose emergency exit sign aides had covered with a sheet of paper to prevent embarrassing pictures in Friday’s newspapers. Shellshocked Conservative MPs struggled to explain the decision — dubbed “Boxit” online. One Johnson supporter, Nadhim Zahawi, thought it was because of the surprise announcement by Michael Gove, Johnson’s fellow Brexit campaigner, that he would stand. Gove, who had previously ruled himself out, launched a stinging attack on Johnson, saying he “cannot provide the leadership” which Britain needs. Some MPs had questioned Johnson’s decision to campaign for Brexit in the first place, believing he only did it to have a shot at the top job. “He has a vision for the country which he’s passionate about, he wants to deliver that, that’s much bigger for him than just becoming a careerist and a prime minister,” Zahawi insisted of Johnson. Another Conservative MP was more direct. “At least it’s not just the Labour party who’s capable of total shambles,” he said, referring to the refusal of Jeremy Corbyn to resign as opposition leader despite losing the support of most of his lawmakers.