More likely he has utterly failed to convince anyone in his party over the last few days to vote for a Boris Gove dream team and is going it alone.
Boris wants PM or nothing and Gove who is apparently obsessed with Europe wants to lead the negotiations.
He may be genuinely worried that the Tory party could fall into the hands of its extreme left wing "Blue Veg' popularised by radical musicians such as Gary Barlow of Spandex Ballet.
Saying Boris can't provide leadership.
My theory. Knows he won't win but splitting the Boris vote gives a free run for May.
It's a post Brexit Leave/Remain stop Boris MayGove pact.