LONDON: Former mayor of London Boris Johnson on Thursday ruled himself out of the race to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron on a day of high drama following Britain’s shock vote to leave the EU.

The decision by Johnson, who spearheaded the “Leave” campaign, upended the Conservative Party leadership contest and added to deep uncertainty over how and when the country will split from the bloc.

Johnson had been tipped as a favourite to succeed Cameron, who resigned after the June 23 referendum saying he would leave it to his successor to begin formal talks with the EU on Britain’s departure — despite European leaders insisting on a quick divorce. The favourite to take over from Cameron is now interior minister Theresa May, who supported staying in the EU but insists she would honour the outcome of the referendum if she won. Johnson made his announcement a couple of hours after fellow Brexit campaigner Michael Gove announced his own surprise bid for the top job, sharply criticising his mop-haired former ally.

In a statement that one MP likened to the actions of the murderous Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play, justice minister Gove said Johnson “cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead”. After listing the qualities required in Britain’s new leader, Johnson left the punchline for the end. “Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I’ve concluded that person cannot be me,” he told shocked supporters at a press conference in a London hotel.

He appeared to quote some of the words spoken by Brutus before killing Julius Caesar in the Shakespeare play — seen as a reference to the act of political betrayal by Gove.

“Time is not to fight against the tide of history,” Johnson said.

Observers were left stunned by the dizzying events in the corridors of power, where opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also clinging on to his job after a revolt by MPs.

“It looks a bit like House of Cards and may be too many politicians are watching Game of Thrones at the moment,” health minister Jeremy Hunt told SkyNews.

The five contenders

Theresa May: May is seen as an effective, hard-working operator who has been interior minister, one of the government’s hardest jobs, for six years under Cameron.While the 59-year-old backed the “Remain” campaign in the referendum, she is not seen as a passionate supporter of the EU.

She takes over as likely frontrunner after former London mayor and Leave campaign figurehead Johnson sensationally Thursday he would not stand in the race after all. She said she would steer Britain through “political and economic uncertainty” and ruled out an early general election before 2020 or a second referendum. May also said she would not invoke Article 50 — the procedure for leaving the EU — this year, despite pressure from EU leaders for Britain to hurry up.

Michael Gove: The bespectacled 48-year-old justice minister is seen as an intellectual leading light of the Conservative Party. He revealed himself to be an effective campaigner for the “Leave” camp in the referendum although he is seen as lacking a popular touch with grassroots supporters. His decision to oppose Cameron in the EU vote was hugely personal — the two have been friends and political allies for years and Gove was the godfather to the prime minister’s late son Ivan.

Stephen Crabb: The work and pensions minister is relatively low-key but his working class roots make him an attractive candidate to some in a party often perceived as elitist and distant from ordinary voters. Raised on a council estate by a single mother, 43-year-old Crabb is a committed Christian who is seen as amiable and conscientious but a long shot for the leadership. He backed EU membership and is running on a dual ticket with business minister Sajid Javid, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, who would likely be named finance minister if Crabb became premier.

Liam Fox: The right-wing, anti-EU Fox is a former defence minister who resigned in 2011 amid questions about his links to a lobbyist friend. Fox, a 54-year-old former family doctor, stood unsuccessfully against Cameron in the last Conservative leadership election in 2005 and is seen as having only an outside chance this time.

Andrea Leadsom: A former banker and fund manager, Leadsom was one of the leaders of the “Leave” campaign. The 53-year-old was first elected to parliament in 2010 and served in the finance ministry. She was made a junior minister in the energy and climate change department in May 2015. Announcing her candidacy on Twitter on Thursday with the hashtag #FreshStart, she wrote: “Let’s make the most of the Brexit opportunities!”

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2016