Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister before Truss, was expected to enter the contest,[5] and his supporters claimed he had exceeded the required number of MP backers,[6] but he chose not to stand.[7] On 24 October, Mordaunt withdrew from the contest less than two minutes before the deadline for nominations,[8] leaving Sunak the only candidate left in the contest, clearing the way for him to become party leader without the need for an MP's ballot or members' vote.[9]