Boris Johnson drops out of UK PM race as his campaign deputy Michael Gove decides to run for PM himself!

Last updated on 23rd July 2016

My Facebook post & comments content, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1760001647549738, is given below.

Published on Jun 30, 2016
Boris Johnson, announcing he will not stand as Conservative leader says: "Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances of Parliament I have concluded that person cannot be me."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB35NZWOONk, around 3 mins.
Hmm. It is getting "curiouser and curiouser"!!!
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How will Boris Johnson’s departure change the Tory leadership contest?, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/30/boris-johnson-departure-tory-leadership-contest, says that Mr. Michael Gove's entry into the contest may have prompted the decision. Michael Gove was one of the noted Leave campaigners though not as well noted perhaps (at least in the international media reports) for his role in the Leave campaign, as Mr. Nigel Farage and Mr. Boris Johnson, both of whom are perceived as the top leaders of the Leave campaign.
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Another view: Former London mayor Boris Johnson says he will not run for British prime minister, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/boris-johnsons-path-to-british-prime-ministership-scrambled-by-allys-defection/2016/06/30/c8c7476e-3df8-11e6-9e16-4cf01a41decb_story.html
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In response to comment, that it looks like it (PM) will be Theresa May, I (Ravi) responded:
It could be Michael Gove, couldn't it? Gove campaigned for Leave, May campaigned for Remain!
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In response to a comment, I (Ravi) wrote:
Well, if Gove is PM then he can ensure that the campaign Johnson and he (with Farage perhaps agreeing) ran (immigration controls and OK if no special access to EU Single Market specifically .. others do not seem to be that much of a problem perhaps) will get implemented by the new govt. ... Otherwise wouldn't there be a danger of a watered down version being agreed to (e.g. EU Single Market free access but allowing freedom of labour movement - EU workers moving to Britain)?
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In response to a comment, I (Ravi) wrote:
Noted your view about Farage. .... I think now it is all about immigration control. Will the new PM be able to deliver on ensuring immigration control for Britain like it was before the EU? Britain gets to say which foreigner can come in and work. Totally under Britain's control like is the case for any sovereign country outside the EU (at least as far as legal immigration is concerned). ... I think that's what many of the Leave voters want. Anything lesser and they may be disappointed.
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My Facebook post & comments content, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1760097974206772, is given below.

The linked article has a close to 17 minute video interview with Michael Gove where he explains why he decided to run for PM himself instead of backing Boris Johnson. Michael Gove: Boris Johnson wasn't up to the job, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36677028
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This one gives an idea of the drama involved and how, many Tory MPs were shocked by the events. Most actually expected Johnson to announce that he was running!!! Gove's thunderbolt and Boris's breaking point: a shocking Tory morning, http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/30/goves-thunderbolt-boris-johnson-tory-morning
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Democratic politics is a ruthless field whether it is USA, UK or India! A political leader doesn't know when a supporter may turn into a DIRECT competitor who has taken away other supporters to his competitive camp and threatens, at times successfully, to unseat the political leader/disrupt the political leader's campaign! .... And then it can get so terribly personal. Just imagine what would be going through a political leader's mind on being told publicly via the media that a former supporter has turned competitor because he thinks the political leader is not fit to do the job the leader was campaigning for! ..... Nasty stuff at a human/emotional level no matter what the arguments are at a logical level!
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Update on 23rd July 2016

The article below talks of a tense 25 minute meeting between Mr. Michael Gove and Mr. Boris Johnson in the Foreign Secretary's Commons office on Monday (18th July 2016). It seems to be have been the first meeting between the two after Mr. Gove ditched Mr. Johnson at the eleventh hour as covered in above part of this post. Mr. Gove eventually lost his bid and, very interestingly, Mr. Johnson was made Foreign Secretary by the new PM, Mrs. Theresa May. PM May also relieved Mr. Gove from his cabinet post!

It's Gover! Boris Johnson snubs olive branch from treacherous former Brexit ally Michael Gove in awkward encounter, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3702872/It-s-Gover-Boris-Johnson-snubs-olive-branch-treacherous-former-Brexit-ally-Michael-Gove-awkward-encounter.html, published on 22nd July 2016

Ravi: Mr. Gove will not be forgiven quickly by Mr. Johnson and his associates, I guess. But politics may force it (the act) to be forgiven over time. Perhaps Mr. Gove conveyed to Mr. Johnson that his act was triggered only by politics and there was "nothing personal" in the act!!!

I quoted the words, "nothing personal", as the term is quite common even in the business and office politics world which I experienced during my 18 year international software industry stint. Today my view is that at top levels, whether in business or in politics or even in spiritual movements/organizations, these things are taken personally. At those high levels, I think loyalty to the top leader is vital, as a disloyal deputy can cause massive damage to the company/party/organization by either joining an opposing camp or starting a new competing company/party/organization.

I would like to add that open disagreement with a top leader followed by a transparent parting of ways is ethical, even if the person who parts ends up creating a competing company/party/organization. It is the hidden disloyalty with eleventh hour betrayal that is very unethical.