Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was stepping down as British prime minister, yielding to calls from fellow ministers and lawmakers from his Conservative Party.
After the resignation of more than 50 ministers and lawmakers said he had to leave, an isolated and powerless Johnson spoke at 10 Downing Street and confirmed he would resign.
“The process of electing this new leader should begin now. And today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will do until there is a new leader,” Johnson said.
Now the Conservatives will have to choose a new leader, a process that can take weeks or months.
Johnson admitted it was “painful” not to continue his government’s work in the future, with the announcement of his resignation just over two-and-a-half years after a landslide victory in the late 2019 election .
“My friends, in politics, no one is indispensable,” he said.
“Foolish”: Some Conservative MPs, Labor leaders question the transition
Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labor Party, said before the announcement that he would call a parliamentary confidence vote if the Conservatives do not dismiss Johnson immediately.
“If they don’t get rid of it, then Labor will act in the national interest and cast a vote of censure because we can’t continue with this clinging prime minister for months and months,” he said. .
Boris Johnson is not fit to govern and must leave now.
It cannot be clung to for months.
If the Conservative Party does not get rid of it, then Labor will act at the national level. interest and present a vote of censure.
– @Keir_Starmer
It is also unclear whether the majority of her party will support her stay for several more weeks, although she appeared to have the backing of Foreign Minister Liz Truss, who called it “the right decision”.
“We need calm and unity now and to continue to rule while a new leader is found,” Truss tweeted.
But several current lawmakers and at least one high-profile member of the party said Johnson’s plan to remain unsustainable.
The Prime Minister has made the right decision.
The government under Boris led to many successes: offering Brexit, vaccines and supporting Ukraine.
We need calm and unity now and to continue to rule while a new government finds the leader.
@trussliz
Simon Hoare, a Conservative member of parliament, said Johnson’s behavior meant he had lost the right to remain as interim leader.
“Ministers resigned because of the prime minister. The party lost confidence because of the prime minister. It is beyond credulity that Mr Johnson can stay in office,” Hoare said.
Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major also questioned the plan.
“The prime minister’s proposal to remain in office for up to three months, after losing the support of his cabinet, his government and his parliamentary party, is reckless and can be unsustainable,” Major said in a public letter.
After days of fighting for his job, the Johnson scandal had been abandoned by all but a handful of allies after the latest in a series of scandals broke his will to support him. Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak resigned Tuesday just minutes from each other over the latest scandal, which involved Conservative lawmaker Chris Pincher.
The media is meeting Thursday at No. 10 Downing Street in London in anticipation of Johnson’s long-awaited announcement. (Alberto Pezzali / The Associated Press)
The crisis comes when the British face the strongest financial pressure in decades, following the COVID-19 pandemic, with rising inflation and the economic forecast will be the weakest among the major nations in 2023, apart from Russia .
It also follows years of internal division caused by the narrow 2016 vote to leave the European Union and threats to the UK’s own composition with demands for another Scottish independence referendum, the second in a decade.
Johnson, in his brief speech, noted what he saw as the successes of his government, including the delivery of Brexit that escaped his predecessor, Theresa May, leading the UK’s rise from the ravages of COVID-19 and recent vocal support and military aid to Ukraine. fight against the invasion of Russia.
“I know there will be a lot of people relieved and maybe quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world,” Johnson said in a speech. off Downing Street.
“But it’s the breaks,” he added.
Electoral losses by regulation
The recent crisis erupted after legislator Pincher, who held a government role involved in pastoral care, was forced to resign over allegations of palpating men at a private club.
Johnson had to apologize after it became known that he had been informed that Pincher had been the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct prior to his appointment. The prime minister said he had forgotten.
This followed months of scandals and missteps, including a damning report on alcohol parties at his Downing Street residence and office that broke COVID-19 blocking rules and saw him fined by police. for a meeting for his 56th birthday. Johnson was accused of lying about his knowledge and attendance at parties.
Carrie Johnson, Boris Johnson’s wife, welcomes her daughter Romy as she listens to her husband’s speech at 10 Downing Street alongside party members including Nadine Dorries, right, one of the strongest allies of the prime minister. (Gareth Fuller / PA / The Associated Press)
There have also been policy changes, an unfortunate defense by a lawmaker who broke lobbying rules and criticism that has not done enough to cope with inflation as many Britons struggle to cope with rising prices of fuels and food.
Johnson’s Conservatives have been affected by other scandals by lawmakers accused of sexual irregularities, including two that led to the resignation of MPs Ahmad Khan and Neil Parish. In both cases, the Conservatives lost the special election held last month to replace them.
Johnson seemed willing to dig in despite this week’s resignations, and in his speech he seemed to regret what he characterized as “the instinct of the herd” in Westminster. On Wednesday, he fired Michael Gove, a member of his top ministerial team who was one of the first to tell him he had to resign.