The home secretary states that she is “grateful for the support,” but she will not enter the race.
Home Secretary Priti Patel declared herself out of the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party only hours before nominations were to close.
The senior Conservative was anticipated to announce her candidacy today, but instead issued a statement indicating that her “focus” would stay on her current position.
It comes as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps became the first contender to withdraw, bringing the total number of candidates to 10.
Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, will declare who has made the first cut and is eligible to run for the next party leader and prime minister of the United Kingdom when nominations close at 6 pm.
Ms. Patel stated that she was “grateful for the encouragement and support colleagues and party members have shown me in recent days by proposing I enter the election.”
She stated, however, that she would not submit her name for the ballot of MPs.
“As home secretary, I have always prioritized the security and safety of our country and the national interest, and my primary objective is to continue working to get more police on our streets, support our incredible security services to keep our country safe, and manage our borders.”
She did not disclose whom she will support in the campaign to succeed Boris Johnson.
Instead, she stated that she would be “listening to the candidates’ cases” and “hoping that the contest would be conducted in a manner that unites our party.”
To qualify for the official ballot, candidates must first receive nominations from 20 Conservative MPs.
Four of the remaining ten candidates, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, former defense minister Penny Mordaunt, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat, have widespread support to join the list.
The teams of the former health secretary Sajid Javid and the new chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, both assert that they have the necessary numbers.
The fate of the remaining four candidates, Jeremy Hunt, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, and Rehman Chishti, remains uncertain.
Tomorrow, MPs will vote on the final list, and on Thursday, the threshold will rise to 30 MPs. It will continue to rise until the last two candidates are approved.
After a series of summer debates, the entire party members will have the opportunity to vote for their chosen candidate; the incoming leader will be unveiled on 5 September.
Mr. Shapps withdrew from the race and offered his support to Mr. Sunak, who also received the support of the Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab.
Ms. Mordaunt tops the pack, followed by former Equalities Minister Ms. Badenoch, according to the most recent survey of Conservative Home party members.
Reportedly, those loyal to Mr. Johnson have selected Ms. Truss as their “stop Rishi” candidate, with Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg and culture secretary Nadine Dorries expressing their support.
While the election campaign continues, Mr. Johnson will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister until his successor is announced.
However, Labour is aiming to expedite his departure by proposing a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons on Wednesday, which might lead to a general election.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition party, deemed it “intolerable” for the prime minister to remain in office when “his party has concluded that he cannot be trusted.”
However, while opposition parties support the resolution, it would require Tory support to pass, making its passage highly doubtful.
