Johnson gets further boost in race to become British prime minister

PM hopeful Boris Johnson leaves his home in London, Britain, June 18, 2019. [Reuters]

Boris Johnson got a further boost in his campaign to become Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday when a second former rival in the race backed him to lead the country out of its Brexit crisis.

Hours before the six contenders to replace Theresa May were due to be whittled down by the party’s lawmakers, Andrea Leadsom declared her support for Johnson, the clear favourite.