Rishi Sunak poised to be PM after Boris Johnson quits race

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( October 24, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Sunak set for coronation as new prime minister, after Boris Johnson pulls out of Tory leadership race]( Rishi Sunak looks set for coronation as the UK’s third prime minister this year after Boris Johnson sensationally pulled out of the race late on Sunday night. Mr Johnson’s retreat leaves Mr Sunak and leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt as the only declared contenders in the contest to succeed Liz Truss, with the former chancellor enjoying an overwhelming lead in endorsements from Tory MPs. The former prime minister’s withdrawal from the contest is a significant humiliation, after he authorised allies to brief that he was ready to return to Downing Street less than two months after his ejection and flew home from a Caribbean holiday to muster support.   2 / [General Election Now: More than 350,000 sign The Independent’s petition to let public choose next PM]( Dramatic departure of Liz Truss fuels demands for early general election 3 / [South Korea fires warning shots after North Korean boat crosses maritime border]( North Korea fires 10 artillery shells in response 4 /[‘Broken’ family pays tribute to boy who died after wall collapse]( ‘As a family, we cannot explain the hurt we feel and we are broken,’ statement reads 5 / [Climate protesters throw mashed potatoes at Monet painting]( No damage has been done to painting, gallery confirms     The Big Question Who are the shortest serving prime ministers in UK history? [Liz Truss]( has become the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history, [resigning after just 45 days in office](. After a meeting with Sir Graham Brady, chair of the powerful backbench 1922 Committee, at Downing Street on Thursday, Ms Truss told the nation it was clear she could no longer deliver the “mandate” she had been given by her party just weeks earlier. The backbench rebellion and market turmoil sparked by the disastrous “mini-Budget” which Ms Truss and her then-chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, introduced in late September, finally caught up to her. [Keir Starmer]([has now demanded a general election](. From Theresa May to [Boris Johnson]( and now Ms Truss, the UK has had a relatively high turnover of prime ministers in recent years, following the divisive vote to leave the European Union in 2016. Here, The Independent takes a look at some of the shortest serving UK prime ministers in modern history. [For the full story click here >](   Watch/ [Rishi Sunak promises ‘professionalism and integrity’ as he announces bid to become next PM](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 3ft – A woman woke up from a daytime snooze on Sunday to discover a three-foot long corn [snake]( attempting to slither in through the window and into her bedroom in Essex.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “In the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do.” – [Boris Johnson]( as he sensationally pulled out of the Tory leadership race late on Sunday night       Other stories you might like   [Democracy campaigner Gina Miller to fight prominent Tory at next election](   [Woman wakes to find three-foot snake attempting to slither into Essex home](   [Salman Rushdie lost sight in one eye and use of hand after ‘brutal’ stabbing, says agent](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers [Rory Sullivan](, The Independent [- Tories, think tanks and the struggle to win the battle of ideas](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.