BORIS Johnson's announcement to not stand in the race to succeed David Cameron has been hailed a "statesman like act" by his father Stanley who lives in Somerset. 

The former London mayor's decision not to join the battle leaves Home Secretary Theresa May as hot favourite to be the next Prime Minister.

It came after the shock announcement by fellow Brexit campaigner Michael Gove - who had widely been expected to be Mr Johnson's running mate - that he was putting himself forward for the leadership.

In a dramatic press conference just moments before the deadline for nominations passed, Mr Johnson said that the next Tory leader would have to unify his party and ensure that Britain stood tall in the world.

His announcement comes just a day after his father Stanley, who lives in Somerset, said he would back his son to be next leader.

Speaking to the County Gazette today, Mr Johnson said: "This is a statesmanlike act by Boris who I know has the good of the country at heart.

"Boris made a tremendous contribution in putting key issues (sovereignty, democracy, the EU's direction of travel etc)  in front of the electorate and was thoroughly vindicated by the result of the Referendum.  

"What matters now is that a new Conservative leader should keep faith with the pledges made,  as we now try to work out a new pattern of relationship with the European Union.

"For example,  I very much doubt that it would be right to accept a continuation of free movement rules, with the resulting massive immigartion flows,  merely to ensure our continued access to the single market.

"We shouldn't bow to blackmail.

"Having set up Environmentalists for Europe, I am of course also anxious that we find ways of retaining the important benefits that EU membership brought, for example, as far as nature protection is concerned, including agri-environment measures so important in the West of England, as well as the control of water and air pollution."