{O/C} To U.K. politics where those in for the country's top job have been winnowed down to only former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
This as caretaker prime minister Boris Johnson attended his final question-and-answer session in parliament as prime minister.
He had a few well-chosen words to offer to his successor as well as touted his achievements during his somewhat shambolic tenure.
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BORIS JOHNSON, British Prime Minister:
Number one: Stay close to the Americans. Stick up for the Ukrainians. Stick up for freedom and democracy everywhere.
I've helped to get this country through a pandemic and help save another country from barbarism. And frankly that's enough to be going on with.
Mission largely accomplished.
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The two prime minister hopefuls are also nailing their colours to the mast as they're set to go toe-to-toe in the August 4th debate in addition to intense campaigning.
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Rishi Sunak carried the day with 137 votes, with Truss' at 113.
Calling it quits was Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt after elimination struck.
Now it's off to weeks of campaigning as the two Conservatives joust for the embattled country's control.
Some 180,000 Conservatives will vote either by post or online.
Liz Truss listed what her potential new role would entail.
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LIZ TRUSS, Conservative Leadership Candidate:
What I believe is that lowering taxes, opening up opportunities is going to help us deliver the economic growth that Britain needs.
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But Rishi Sunak is poised to pulverise the opposition by fighting fire with fire.
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RISHI SUNAK, Conservative Leadership Contender:
Who is the best person to defeat Keir Starmer in the Labour Party in the next election? I believe I'm the only candidate who can do that. And I've got the experience and the vision to translate those values into a government that delivers for the British people.
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And a catchphrase from "Terminator 2" caps Johnson's scandal-ridden reign.
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BORIS JOHNSON, British Prime Minister:
Hasta la vista, Baby! Thank you.
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But the chips appeared down for him because former Prime Minister Theresa May had a chip on her shoulder.
As Johnson basked in a standing ovation in the House of Commons, May conspicuously declined to clap for him.
Boris Johnson's tenuous hold on power was crushed by the pandemic, scandals, economic crisis and a deluge of resignations.
An ironic twist to a man who once weathered the acrimonious Brexit storm.
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