UK: Boris Johnson telling Rishi Sunak to drop out of PM contest, let him replace Liz Truss, say reports

The contest for becoming the United Kingdom's next Prime Minister is heating up, with former premier Boris Johnson reportedly trying to get back the throne which he lost in July 2022.

Johnson is now pressurising Rishi Sunak to drop out of the race, according to British media reports. Sunak is an Indian-origin politician who had given Liz Truss stiff competition after Boris Johnson resigned.

With Liz Truss having quit as PM after just 45 days, Rishi Sunak is being seen as the frontrunner to replace her. But Boris Johnson is trying to convince the ruling Conservative party that only he can save the party and prevent its defeat in the next elections due in December 2024, as per a report in The Telegraph.

Sunak had served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson. Boris' appeal to Rishi Sunak is interesting as Sunak was part of the rebellion which forced Johnson to resign earlier this year.

Boris Johnson was mired in multiple controversies, including allegations of organising illegal parties at his official residence - 10, Downing Street - during Covid lockdowns.

The Conservative party is expected to choose its next leader, who will also be PM, by 28 October 2022.