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Dominic Raab, a former minister knocked out of the race to become British prime minister, backed frontrunner Boris Johnson on Wednesday, telling reporters that he was the only candidate who would deliver Brexit by October 31.
"The only candidate who will now do this is Boris Johnson and so I'll be supporting him to become our next prime minister," he told the paper.
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UK Conservatives weigh best challenger to Boris Johnson
Raab, a strongly pro-Brexit candidate, won 30 votes from fellow Conservative Party lawmakers in the second round on Tuesday and was eliminated from the contest, leaving five candidates left, suggesting that the parliament could be suspended if lawmakers blocked a no-deal departure from the European Union.
(L-R) MP Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the UK Michael Gove, Home Secretary of the UK, Sajid Javid, and Secretary of State for International Development of the UK, Rory Stewart participate in a Conservative Leadership televised debate in London, the UK, June 18, 2019. /VCG Photo
Five candidates proceed to Wednesday's third round led by Johnson, who received 126 votes of 313 votes in Tuesday's ballot. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt came second in the previous round, with 46 votes. The candidate with the fewest votes on Wednesday will be eliminated, leaving four still in the race.
After Conservative MPs finish voting, the final pair will be put to a ballot of 160,000 party members, with the winner taking over in Downing Street likely in late July.
Combining forces to thwart Johnson
On the other hand, Rory Stewart, the international development minister and UK PM candidate, said he is in talks with his rival Michael Gove about teaming up to block Johnson's bid to become the country's next leader.
Stewart told the BBC, "We are talking about combining forces because it is clear that Boris is going into the last round and the question is who is best placed to sit on a stage with Boris Johnson and who is best placed to ask the testing questions that need to be asked?"
Rory Stewart arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in London, the UK, June 18, 2019. /VCG Photo
Stewart had the biggest increase in support from lawmakers in the second round of the contest after a campaign appealing to voters through social media and walking tours.
A spokeswoman for Stewart said he speaks with other candidates "all the time" and accepts that at some point they will need to combine teams.
"But any team that combines, Rory wants to lead it," the spokeswoman said. "He is the only one with a chance to beat Boris in the final two and to provide the clearest choice."
"Rory's in this to win, whether on his own or with other people coming behind him, and go all the way to the final two and Number 10."
(Cover: Conservative Party leadership candidate Boris Johnson attends the launch of his campaign in London, Britain, June 12, 2019. /VCG Photo)