NEWTON Abbot’s MP has thanked Boris Johnson for stepping aside in the contest to decide our next Prime Minister.

MP Anne Marie Morris spoke after Boris Johnson withdrew yesterday evening, Sunday, from the Leadership contest of the Conservative Party.

Ms Morris said: ‘What the country needs now is stability and certainty.

‘Boris was not the person to deliver that.

‘Too much unfinished business. He resigned because he could not command the support of the parliamentary party.

‘He has done the right thing standing aside now.

‘He has put the country first and for that I thank him. He delivered Brexit and for that we shall be forever in his debt.’

This means former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the only MP with the backing of more than 100 MPs and could be declared Prime Minister by this afternoon, Monday.

His other rival, Penny Mordaunt, is reported to be way off securing 100 backers - she must do so by 2pm to get her name on the ballot paper