Who could replace Boris Johnson in the role of prime minister?
Boris Johnson has announced the end of his term as prime minister in the fall, admitting many people would be relieved and others disappointed as he appeared with MPs in a historic speech on Downing Street.
Insisting he would stay in the job while a new Conservative leader is chosen, he said it was “eccentric” to change leaders at this stage and admitted to being sad to leave the job, but refrained from talking about the more than 50 resignations of the government. or the collapse of support for him in the Conservative Party.
Recognizing that “in politics no one is indispensable,” he blamed a “herd instinct” for rejecting his arguments to stay in power. It was painful not to be able to fulfill his plans, he added.
Addressing the people of Ukraine, Johnson said that “we in the UK will continue to support your struggle for freedom for as long as it takes.”
Critics had insisted he handed over power today.
Five cabinet ministers had resigned in less than two days.
The speech fires the starting pistol at the race between aspiring successors to the party leadership, for which a schedule will be announced next week.
Key points
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Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 1:07 p.m.
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Zelensky’s assistant thanks Boris Johnson for his support of Ukraine
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, thanked Boris Johnson for his support in Ukraine.
In a video posted on Twitter, he spoke to the camera and added: “Today we have everything we need for the effective defense of the country: weapons, partnership and coalition, and thanks to Mr. Johnson, we understand that victory is a a real symbol of the future in Ukraine … we are very grateful to our partners, Mr. Johnson, for the opportunity to do our job effectively. “
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 1:05 p.m.
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Our political correspondent Jon Stone has more information on the comments of Liz Truss, who broke days of silence about the Prime Minister’s resignation when he concluded his speech off number 10.
Mrs. Truss was traveling abroad visiting Indonesia while Johnson’s office was collapsing around her and had so far not spoken publicly about the turmoil in Westminster.
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 1:01 p.m.
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The co-leader of the Green Party is calling for general elections
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has called a general election in response to Boris Johnson’s resignation.
“It has been a parody that we have taken so many scandals to reach this stage. I hope Boris Johnson’s resignation ends this embarrassing and unedifying period of British politics, ”Denyer said.
“It is clear, however, that this resignation has come too late to avoid lasting damage to our democracy and our country in general, and the Conservative MPs who have supported it so far are to blame for this.
“For too long, the Conservatives have allowed the situation to drag on while protecting a prime minister who has lied and lied again to cling to power even though he was disabling the government during multiple crises.
“The British public cannot forget the damage that the Conservative Party as a whole has deliberately inflicted on this country in the midst of a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and the acceleration of the climate crisis.
“Boris Johnson was not just a bad apple, the whole tree is rotten. The citizens have lost confidence in this government and that is why it is so important that we now have a general election to give people the floor on how they want the his country is headed “.
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 1:00 p.m.
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You can watch Boris Johnson’s entire resignation speech here:
Boris Johnson resigns as prime minister
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:57 PM
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Boris Johnson speaks of an “immense privilege” to serve as prime minister
Boris Johnson said it had been an “immense privilege” to serve as Prime Minister and thanked the British public when he concluded his speech.
“Above all, I want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege you have given me and I want you to know that from now until the new Prime Minister is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will continue.
“Being prime minister is an education in itself. I have traveled all over the UK and in addition to the beauty of our natural world I have found so many people with such unlimited British originality and so willing to address old issues in an informative way that I know that although the things seem. now dark, our future together is golden.
“Thank you all very much. Thanks.”
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:56 PM
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The PM thanks the woman, the family and the civil service
Boris Johnson thanked his wife, family, and civil servants in his speech.
The Prime Minister said, “I want to thank Carrie and our children, and all the members of our family who have had to endure so much for so long.”
He also thanked the “unparalleled British official” and the “fantastic NHS” who “helped extend my own term in office”.
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:55 PM
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Johnson pledges to support the new leader
Boris Johnson has said he will give “as much support” as possible to the new Conservative leader.
“And for you, the British public, I know there will be a lot of people relieved, and maybe a few who will also be disappointed,” he said.
“And I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world.”
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:53 PM
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Liz Truss breaks the silence and calls for “calm and unity”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has broken her silence, saying the Conservative Party needs “calm and unity” until a new leader is elected.
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:50 p.m.
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Johnson expresses “pain” for resignation
Boris Johnson has expressed grief and regret at not being able to finish his term as prime minister.
“I’m sorry I didn’t succeed in these arguments, and of course it’s painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.”
“The herd’s instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves,” he said, adding, “My friends in politics, no one is clearly indispensable.”
“Our brilliant, Darwinian system will produce another leader equally committed to moving this country forward in difficult times,” he said.
Andy Gregory July 7, 2022 12:45 p.m.