Boris bows out: UK in shock as Johnson drops leadership bid

LONDON (AP) — In a real-life political drama mixing Shakespearean tragedy with "House of Cards," Britain's victorious anti-EU campaigner Boris Johnson saw his chances of leading his country evaporate Thursday after the defection of a key ally.

The former London mayor dropped his campaign to become Conservative Party leader and prime minister after Justice Secretary Michael Gove abruptly withdrew his support for Johnson and announced he would run himself.

Johnson, a prominent campaigner for Britain's withdrawal from the 28-nation European Union, told a news conference where he was expected to announce his candidacy that the next Conservative leader would need to unite the party and ensure Britain's standing in the world.

"Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me," he said to the astonishment of gathered journalists and supporters.

Johnson's decision to break with longtime ally Prime Minister David Cameron and back the "leave" side in Britain's EU referendum seemed to have paid off when Cameron announced he would resign after last week's vote in favor of exiting the bloc.

Apart from Gove and May, contenders for the Conservative leadership are Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom and former Defense Secretary Liam Fox.

Conservative lawmakers will choose two finalists before more than 100,000 party members select the winner in a postal ballot.

"The United Kingdom will leave the EU," she said, pledging to create a new government department devoted to negotiating Britain's "sensible and orderly" departure from the bloc.