U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party and as prime minister bringing a bitter end to a nearly three-year of office that has been full of controversy and scandal.
Speaking outside Downing Street on Thursday afternoon to announce his resignation, Johnson said the process for choosing the new leader of the Conservative Party should begin now, with a timetable to be announced next week. He said he intends to remain in place until a new Tory leader is elected.
His decision to remain in office comes despite a clear lack of support from within his own party and a growing push across the political range for him to step down immediately. The Trumpet Gathered
Johnson said he was sad to be giving up the best job in the world, but conceded that “no one is remotely indispensable” in politics.
Johnson thanked the Conservative Party and the British voters for trusting the party and helping it to victory in the 2019 elections.
He also thanked his wife Carrie Johnson, his children, the National Health Service, armed forces and Downing Street staff.
A lot of ministers had resigned from the government, citing loss of confidence in the prime minister as a reason for their resignation.
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Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi was the latest of Johnson’s allies to urge him to “go now,” saying the unprecedented political crisis over his future was not sustainable and would “only get worse.”
Remarkably, Zahawi’s call for Johnson to step down came just two days after the prime minister appointed him finance minister.
Two high-profile ministers resigned on Tuesday Sajid Javid, UK secretary of state for health and social care, and Rishi Sunak, UK treasury chief following a dispute over Johnson’s decision to appoint Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip earlier this year.
Pincher resigned and was suspended as a Conservative Party MP last week, following accusations that he drunkenly groped two men at a private member’s club. It has since emerged that Johnson appointed him to the role despite knowing of previous misconduct allegations against him.
Johnson apologized for appointing Pincher as deputy chief whip. He has since repeatedly rejected calls to resign.
However, Johnson bowed to the political pressure over his future and announced he would step down on Thursday.
Last month, Johnson survived a vote of confidence triggered by his own MPs amid increasing dissatisfaction with his leadership. The secret ballot of Tory lawmakers saw some 211 MPs vote in favour of Johnson, while 148 voted against him.
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