ALISTAIR SMOUT THE contest to replace British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered pace as five more candidates declared their intention to run, with many pledging lower taxes and a clean start from Johnson's scandal-ridden premiership. Johnson on Thursday said he would resign as prime minister, after lawmakers and cabinet colleagues rebelled over his handling of a series of scandals, including breaches of lockdown rules in gatherings at his Downing Street office. He said he would stay on until a new leader was elected. A member of a Conservative party committee which sets the rules for leadership elections said on Sunday…