Advertisement
Politics

Boris Johnson has finally resigned as prime minister

But he says he’s staying until there’s a replacement. Which could be a while.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has resigned, finally conceding in the face of immense pressure from his own party.

Delivering a speech outside Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, Johnson said: “It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister.”

He said he had appointed his new cabinet to serve with him until a new leader is in place.

He added: “And to that new leader, I say, whoever he or she may be, I will give you as much support as I can. And to you, the British public, I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed and I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world – but them’s the breaks.”

His departure makes him the fourth shortest-lived PM since the war, with his tenure just under a month shorter than Theresa May – who he replaced as leader.

Despite a defiant performance at Prime Minister’s Questions, an avalanche of resignations forced the issue.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

It is less than three years since, in his first speech as prime minister, he said: “The doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters – they are going to get it wrong again.

“The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts because we are going to restore trust in our democracy

Johnson seemed to have survived the Partygate scandal and a no-confidence vote from his MPs, but his handling of the Chris Pincher allegations proved to be the final straw.

Less than 48 hours ago Johnson had attempted to once again reset his government with the appointments of Nadhim Zahawi, Steve Barclay and Michelle Donelan to chancellor, health secretary and education secretary. Donelan quit on Thursday morning, and Zahawi made us of his new letterhead by writing to the PM urging him to step down – a move seen by many as the clincher.

Following his PMQs performance, the number of resignations became almost impossible to keep up with – with loyalists Kemi Badenoch and Liam Fox among those to tell Johnson to go. Ministers even signed letters jointly, such was the gold rush.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Starmer needs to be more scared of us than Reform': Zack Polanski on how the Greens can outflank Farage
Zack Polanski
Politics

'Starmer needs to be more scared of us than Reform': Zack Polanski on how the Greens can outflank Farage

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: 'My first political meeting was being dragged to a Tory disco'
Letter To My Younger Self

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: 'My first political meeting was being dragged to a Tory disco'

Working class and young people are ditching Labour. 'Aping Reform' won't bring them back
Politics

Working class and young people are ditching Labour. 'Aping Reform' won't bring them back

Ely riots, two years on: A Cardiff community pulling itself back together holds lessons for Britain
Ely riots

Ely riots, two years on: A Cardiff community pulling itself back together holds lessons for Britain

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue