Boris Johnson announced his resignation as British Prime Minister on Thursday., after three years in office marred by a succession of scandals that culminated in the rebellion of his own cabinet and parliamentary group. In his speech outside Downing Street, he reported that has launched the process to be replaced as leader of the British Conservative Party and, therefore, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
the news arrives after the double resignation of Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday night, causing an increasing number of Conservative MPs to launch exorbitant public attacks on his judgement, his leadership and his fidelity to the truth
“It is clear that the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party now is for there to be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister,” Johnson said in a brief statement, blaming “herd instinct” in Westminster for his march. .
Furthermore, he announced that “the process of electing that new leader must begin now” and that he has already begun to fill some ministerial vacancieswith Greg Clark set to step in, temporarily, as “leveling secretary” while James Cleverly becomes the third education secretary in as many days.
For its part, Johnson will remain in office until a new leader is elected. indicating that he spoke with the president of the 1922 Committee -which brings together “Tory” deputies without portfolio-, Graham Brady, to start the process to replace him, since this committee is in charge of establishing the calendar for the election of the “number one ” of training, which can last several months.
recognized that in the last hours he tried to convince his government that it would be “strange” to replace him now and regretted having “failed” in those discussions, while admitting that “in politics, no one is essential.”
He also said he is “immensely proud” of his government’s achievements, such as Brexit, the pandemic crisis and standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“Being Prime Minister is an education in itself. I have traveled to every part of the UK and found that many people had a borderless originality and were willing to tackle old problems in new ways,” Johnson added.
It leaves a nation mired in political and economic uncertainty and still showing the strains of its unique yet deeply divisive triumph – the UK’s exit from the European Union – while facing rising inflation, a possible recession and the threat of a widespread strike. The Conservatives trail the main opposition Labor Party in the polls, and their past reputation for sleaze has been revived under Johnson.