30/06/2016 BBC News at Six

From front runner to no show - Boris Johnson pulls out of the race

What is your message to Michael Gove?

He led the charge for the Leave campaign in the referendum but

Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in

Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me.

They were the dream team on the road but at the last minute Michael Gove

While Boris has great attributes, he was not capable of uniting that

team and leading the party and the country in the way

Also standing is Theresa May who says she is offering strong

leadership and warns that politics is not a game.

I don't often wear my heart on my sleeve, I just get on with the job

Also tonight, a new warning on the economy from the governor

Mark Carney says growth is likely to slow down and points

I don't often wear my heart on my sleeve, I just get on with the job

REPORTER: Are you going to stand for the leadership?

I'll be saying something later today.

Angela Eagle decides today is not the day to take on Jeremy Corbyn

100 years on from the Somme - the battle that changed wartime injuries

it's a bumper day for the British fans.

Both of our number ones are in action on Centre Court.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

In the most astonishing turn of events - in a week that's already

thrown up a few shocks - Boris Johnson has announced that

he's not a candidate to become the next Conservative leader.

His decision came just hours after Justice Secretary Michael

Gove - his colleague in the Leave campaign -

Earlier, the Home Secretary, Theresa May,

who campaigned to stay in the EU, announced she would be standing.

Our political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports on the start

of a contest that will lead to a new Prime Minister for Britain.

Waiting, waiting and waiting. Even some of Boris Johnson's closest

friends and supporters did not know what they were waiting for. Only his

wife and a couple of confidence knew what was coming next. I must tell

you, my friends, you who have waited faithfully for the punch line of

this speech that, having consulted colleagues and in view of the

circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me.

The blonde dropped a bombshell, leaving the race. Because his

campaign chief, Michael Gove, had phoned the strategist Lynton Crosby

this morning, quitting and saying he would run instead. Thought Mr

Johnson's supporters, tears and disbelief. You look absolutely

devastated. Yeah, well... I worked with him for ten years in London, I

know his quality and I stand by everything I said about him.

Obviously the circumstances of the last couple of days have been very

turbulent and caught a lot of us by surprise. I didn't know, I'm very

disappointed. I had no idea, a total surprise to me. In 24-hour is,

friends have turned bitter foes come they fought and won the referendum

together but now Michael Gove is not just withdrawing his support but

saying he wants to be Prime Minister in stead. Although he has always

denied having that ambition. The one thing I do know is that having seen

David Cameron up close, I know that it takes extraordinary reserves of

patients of judgment, of character to lead this country and he has it

and I don't. So what on earth has made Michael Gove completely changed

his view? During the course of the last few days I have realised that

while Boris does have those very special abilities to communicate and

to reach out, what he did not have was the capacity to build and the

league that team and to provide the leadership of the country need at

this critical moment. You have worked closely with Boris Johnson

for the last few months during the referendum campaign and you have

known the man for decades. People will think it is rather surprising

that suddenly you are saying that in the last couple of days it has

occurred to me that he is not up to it? In the last four days I had a

chance to see up close and personal how Boris dealt with some of the

decisions we needed to make to take this country forward. During that

period I had hoped that Boris would rise to the occasion because

inevitably, when you have a leadership election, people are

tested, questions are asked of them tests are set. As I say, Boris has a

formidable qualities but I saw him not to pass those tests. Whether it

is treachery or tragedy, the Home Secretary's smooth calm puts her as

front runner. The Lord was packed with MPs and ministers ready to

support her promises to cut immigration and provide stability at

a time of crisis. Mike Pitt is very simple, I'm Theresa May and I think

the best person to be Prime Minister of this country -- my pitch. If ever

there was a time for a Prime Minister who is ready and able to do

the job from day one, this is it. We have immediate work to do to restore

political stability and economic certainty, to bring together the

party and the country and to negotiate a sensible and orderly

departure from the European Union. And I know I'm not a showy

politician, I don't tour the television studios, I don't gossip

about people over lunch, go drinking in Parliament's bars, I don't often

wet my heart on my sleeve, I just get on with the job in front of me

-- where my heart. You were on the losing side of the European

argument. What is it now that makes you think you are a winner? I think

what the public want is strong, resilient leadership and I think

they want honesty from their politicians. And I have always tried

to be as clear with people as possible about what the challenges

are and the difficulties in facing them and how we can do that together

and I think that is what people are looking for. But this race for

number ten may yet find surprising stars. The referendum gave a big

platform to Andrea Leadsom who has now said she will run. I have a real

hard for this, it is something I long to do so I am hoping but at the

end of the day it is after the party and then the country. The former

Defence Secretary Liam Fox, on the right of the Tory party, is taking

another shot. This is about the government of our country, the

future of our relationships with Europe and the beyond. What do you

want to say to Michael Gove? It is an undignified departure from the

race from a politician who pleases crowd but alarms some others. Not

even a week since his biggest victory, Boris Johnson's battle to

become Prime Minister is lost before it officially began. Laura Coombs

Bert van Marwijk, BBC News, Westminster. -- Laura Kuenssberg.

Michael Gove was by no means the only Conservative

Lord Heseltine launched a scathing attack on him,

saying he'd created the greatest constitutional crisis

In just one week Mr Johnson has gone from victory to defeat.

James Landale looks at what went wrong for him and what it means

His report contains some flash photography. Boris Johnson was the

charismatic face of Leave, campaigning for a cause as the

Castle as he once campaigned for himself, a man who appealed beyond

party bounds and, yes, who won. I believe that this that they can be

our country's Independence Day. And if Britain chose to get out of the

EU, many thought he could get into Downing Street. And after Leave won,

the assumption was that he and Michael Gove would form a dream

ticket, uniting popular support with intellectual rigour. But it was not

to be. In a statement released this morning, Michael Gove said...

MPs backing Mr Johnson were furious. You are quite shocked? I am, it

looks like a student political game when the country needs direction and

clarity and of maturity. I am shocked and surprised that people

should behave in this way. So why did Mr Gove changes mind? In any

mail this week and his wife claimed that Tory members and media moguls

like Rupert Murdoch needed reassurance about Mr Johnson. Some

MPs claimed that an article in the Daily Telegraph on Monday showed Mr

Johnson did not have the determination to deliver on Brexit

and one MPs who backed Mr Johnson in the papers today suggested there had

been a row about campaign staff and cabinet jobs. We wanted a broad

range and when you look at the list of candidates, some unexpected,

people that we wanted to have on site that are now running in their

own right, and we thought that we would have avoided that. We have a

strong, unified team. It did not happen because Boris was cavalier

with the assurances he made. Many MPs believe that Mr Gopal out

primarily because he did not believe Mr Johnson could win and that his

heart was not in this race. Mr Johnson's supporters claim

that this wasn't some last-minute change of mind but a deliberate,

planned political assassination. Either way, not everyone has

sympathy for Mr Johnson. For where he has left the Tory party and the

country. This guy has created the biggest hunted usual crisis in peace

time in my lifetime. He has seen eight serious depletion in the

nation's savings, he has torn the Tory party apart. And the man who

sought the leadership for years has seen it plucked from his grasp. The

bitterness of today will linger long. James Farndale, BBC News,

Westminster. So how will the Conservative

leadership contest work? Michael Gove and Theresa May are

the best known of the candidates. They, and Stephen Crabb,

Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox MPs will whittle the list

down to two candidates. Party members will choose one

of them - our next Prime Minister. Lets talk to our political editor,

Laura Kuenssberg. The party was meant to reunite after the

referendum but it does not look like that. Absolutely not. There are all

sorts of different accounts of what went on but one thing is clear,

suspicion and mistrust are all around this in Westminster tonight.

Boris Johnson, whether it was his own fault because of how he has

behaved or whether this was an act of political treachery by Michael

Gove, is one of our best-known politicians, known so much for his

ambition to one they moved into number ten. His decision to abandon

that goal that he has held for years is a huge shock here in Westminster.

Certainly tonight there is a senior group of conservatives who for a

long time have seen the party's destiny as being up to them, who are

completely at odds with each other and you cannot emphasise enough how

personal this all is. They have put together and know each other for

decades and what has happened today is a real shock and a real

bitterness is being felt all around. The other thing that is clear

tonight is that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, now moves elegantly and

smoothly to become the front runner not just to become the next Tory

leader but to become our next Prime Minister. Her campaign launched

today was a complete contrast to what happened with Mr Johnson and Mr

Gove. But leadership races, as we have been absolutely reminded of

today, Camberley completely and totally unpredictable. Given that

the referendum result had not even been decided this time last week, we

were going to be ballot is to decide our future, it is astonishing how

much things have changed in the last seven days and they could change

again long before this is settled. The Governor of the Bank of England,

Mark Carney, has signalled that interest rates could be cut

over the summer. He warned that economic growth

could be hit for some time The Governor of the Bank of England,

Mark Carney, has signalled that Mr Carney said more cash might also

need to be pumped into the economy. Here's our Business

Editor Simon Jack. As the boat leaves campaign punched

the air in victory last week, the market hit the floor. ?1.8 trillion

was wiped off shares worldwide in a single day, the city and the country

seemed rudderless. The Bank of England had described Brexit is the

biggest risk to the economy and the governor had not changed his tune to

the economy and the governor had not changed his tune today. In my view,

and I'm not prejudging the views of other independent members of the

MPC, the economic outlook has deteriorated and some monetary

policy easing will likely be required over the summer. That could

mean lower interest rates, more money printing or both, to deal with

a new economic reality. The material slowing in growth that the MPC had

identified as a risk associated with the referendum now looks likely to

be our central forecast. Out in the real economy there is some early

evidence of a slowdown. One thing we have noticed is 4-mac a potential

contract in the pipeline have pulled back, international client is

looking to invest in the UK and until we know if Britain is in the

single market or not they will be a period of under the -- uncertainties

and that is unsettling for people looking to invest here, for jobs and

for new business. That the biggest losers this week have been banks.

HSBC and JP Morgan have warned jobs in the UK could go to Europe but to

date the Barclays chief told the BBC that UK jobs were not under threat.

We want to be involved in the capital markets globally. Right now

the best way to do that is to be anchored in London and New York as

we are. We might have to increase your present in another location

that does not necessarily mean you are decreasing your present here. Do

you predict reception? It is too early to tell. This is not an

economic crisis, this is very different to what happened in 2008.

In some financial markets have roared back, helped in part by the

Governor's hint of an imminent interest rate cut. It is still early

days in the post Brexit journey but to date is the Bank of England made

it clear it thinks the sky has darkened over the UK economy. Simon

Jack, BBC News. The Government has decided

to postpone a decision on airport expansion in the south-east

of England until a new Prime An announcement on projects

at Heathrow or Gatwick had been Business leaders have

criticised the move, saying airport capacity is now

an even greater priority following Now, the Conservatives aren't

the only ones facing The former Shadow Business

Secretary, Angela Eagle, was expected to say that she would

be challenging Jeremy Corbyn But the BBC understands

she is delaying her announcement. It follows an overwhelming vote

of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn Our Deputy Political Editor

John Pienaar reports. Jeremy Corbyn's home is normally

mobbed by the media. Today, as rival Cabinet Ministers

jostled and bumped each other off in the power struggle for Britain,

he set off in peace. No-one's even asking

what Labour thinks anymore. First launching a plan to stamp out

racism in the party, he upset critics by mentioning

Israel and the so-called Islamic Our Jewish friends are no more

responsible for the actions actions of Israel or the Netanyahu

Government than our Muslim friends A pro-Corbyn activist who'd handed

out a statement saying rebel MPs should be sacked as candidates

turned on a Jewish MP for what he So you can see who's

working hand-in-hand. The MP, Ruth Smeeth

walked out in disgust. And under enormous pressure to stand

down, facing an imminent leadership I am the leader of the party

and I'm doing that. What do you say to those many

members and most of your MPs who will never follow your

leadership no matter what you say And is the break-up of the Labour

Party a price worth paying I'm sorry, John,

I am going to cut in. There will be plenty of time

in the months ahead Mr Corbyn made a message

to the Labour Party. He headed back to Westminster

where his MPs are competing to see Mr Corbyn, is the break-up

of your party a price worth paying? And where once loyal MPs are telling

me privately they think he should stand down too to prevent a

right-wing takeover. Jeremy Corbyn's left-wing

faith goes back decades. New members helped elect him

with far-left backing all hostile to most Labour MPs

and behind his loyal hard core support who are determined

he cut and won't give in. He absolutely has my support

and the support of the majority I think he's a man who's shown

immense courage and leadership this week as MPs have tried to take a

coup out against him. I believe he is the right man

to lead the Labour Party. Angela Eagle, a former

Shadow Cabinet Minister's ready But Owen Smith fancies

a challenge too. They are both holding back to decide

which one has the best chance And there's another reason

a challenge has been put on hold. Many MPs are becoming convinced

Jeremy Corbyn's determination to fight on may be

weakening under pressure. This morning, more than 500 Labour

councillors joined the chorus There's talk of his trade

union support softening. They say his base of support is

strong enough to see off all-comers. Boris Johnson came out on the

winning side in the referendum - but, today, he says he will not

be running for leader And still to come: Britain's top

players in Wimbledon action today - We hear from Wales manager Chris

Coleman as he builds to the their Euro 2016 quarter-final

against Belgium tomorrow. Tomorrow marks the centenary

of the Battle of the Somme - a day that became the bloodiest

in British military history, killing Many more sustained injuries that

had never been seen before on such a scale and returned home

to a society that didn't Sophie Raworth has been talking

to a former army captain who lost both legs in Afghanistan about how

different life is for injured The 31-year-old, who stepped

on an improvised explosive device in Helmand five years ago is hoping

to go to the Paralympics and win His great grandfather served

in World War I, rescuing injured I think I would find it incredibly

difficult to even picture what it was that they went

through back in 1916, 1917, sitting in a trench filled

with mud and dead bodies, rats, It is very hard for me

to imagine just how 100 years ago, the horror of war

was compounded by the new weapons Tanks were deployed for the first

time at the Somme, and machine guns The result was the largest number

of casualties ever seen This was very high velocity

weaponry, large blast injuries, So at the very heart of it,

the wounds had changed. They were blowing great bits

out of people. Around 40,000 soldiers returned

home with missing limbs. For the first time, the medical

world had to come up with ways of getting large numbers

of amputees back into society. I can't imagine trying to go back

and do the things I'm doing now And I look at this leg,

and the only thing I could imagine The historical evidence

is that people tried it for five or six years,

and then really they went back home, or went into a Star and Garter home,

and simply weren't able to function. And suddenly doctors had to deal

with reconstructing the faces Many never overcame

the psychological impact They are called hospital blues

for the most obvious reasons. They are a suit that was issued

to pretty much all the military It came to be something that

but the public recognised, so that if out of the corner

of your eye you caught blue, you knew immediately

that there was somebody over there was a military casualties,

and that really increases A century later, as Dave Henson

prepares to compete on the world stage, that sense of isolation

is far from his reality. This is something that

has happened to me. I lost my legs, and there

is an interesting story behind it. I am very proud of what I have done,

and I'm so happy to share that with people and display that

in the form of these war wounds I keep on show more

less 99% of the time. That was former army captain,

Dave Henson, finishing that report. Brief look at some of the day's

other news stories. Britain is sending another 250

military personnel to Iraq, almost doubling the number

of UK forces there. The additional service personnel

will be based in the west of the country and take part

in a variety of training duties. The government says the deployment

would help in the fight against A woman has won a Court

of Appeal battle to be able to use her daughter's frozen eggs

to give birth to her own grandchild. The woman's daughter had the eggs

stored after she was diagnosed with cancer; she died

five years later. The fertility regulator had refused

to grant the mother permission The Former Sweden striker, Zlatan

Ibrahimovic, has confirmed that he'll sign for Manchester United

after leaving Paris St-Germain. after four years with the French

champions. Andy Murray has been in action

at Wimbledon this afternoon. Earlier fellow brit Dan Evans eased

into the third round - Here's our sports

correspondent Joe Wilson. It's easy to get fixated

on the ivy-clad grandeur of Centre but don't forget

there is Court 2, too. It was here that a British

player excelled himself. Dan Evans overwhelming the number 13

seed, Alexander Dolgopolov of Ukraine, completing

a straight sets victory. Into the third round,

he now has the traditional reward for a British outsider,

a match against Roger Federer. I've got to prepare like I've got

a chance to win the match and I can't wait to get out

and play him. It will be an amazing experience

and hopefully a good atmosphere. Plenty of empty seats

at six minutes past four. Perhaps they all expected him

to ease past Yen-Hsun Lu. Here is a way to crush complacency

instantly. That is how you want

to hit a drop shot. Murray's serve broken in the very

first game of the match. In the furious back and forth, Lu

was only slightly less relentless. A mistake, a break and the first set

followed to Murray, 6-3. Murray had questioned his movement

in his first-round match. Double fault, 6-1 in the third,

it's not how you start, Offer will on Centre Court right

now, Johanna Konta. Playing Buchard. It is going with serve so far. And

it's still dry. Time for a look at the weather.

Here's Alex Deakin. Dry today, largely at Wimbledon. Not

a first week where they've been worried about the ice-creams

melting. Throughout the month of the June, the statistics so far show

it's been a dull and a damp month. It has actually been slightly warmer

than average. Where has summer been? Hide in Shetland. Cracking weather

here over the past couple of weeks. We change month overnight tonight

but not really weather patterns. A soggy night for southern Scotland.

Northern England. A band of rain sinking southwards. Pretty much out

of the way by dawn. For many, a dry start to Friday. Potentially still

grey and damp across the south-east for a time in the morning. Slowly

brightening up. Sunny spells and showers get going. Heavy and

widespread, particularly over the northern half of the UK in the

afternoon. Not too many over south Wales, south-west England. Some

decent dry spells here. Should dry up in the London area for Wimbledon.

Sunny spells likely here. As we head north more and more showers. Heavy,

thundery, hail thrown in for good measure. There will be some sunshine

at times. But even when the sun's out temperatures struggling in the

low to mid-teens. Into the weekend, more of the same on Saturday. Sunny

spells. Largely dry start. Showers get going chiefly in northern

Britain. Perhaps a touch warmer. We could squeak up to 20 or 21 sells

crews. On Sunday, more cloud over the south. Maybe drizzly rain.

Further north not as many showers around on Sunday. There will still

be some fine weather around on Sunday. Never speck stack lateral

warm. As we head into the first part of the July staying cool and breezy.

Some summer sunshine but the weather never too far away.

A reminder of our main story: Boris Johnson has pulled out

of the contest to be the next Conservative Party leader,

His counterpart in the Leave campain, Michael Gove,

has himself decided to stand for the leadership.

and on BBC One we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.