Robert Buckland: ‘The Prime Minister… Has no choice but to step down’ © Getty Images
The former UK secretary of justice said the Conservative party must “end this farce” as more than 40 government ministers resigned in an attempt to oust Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“If the writing wasn’t on the wall last night, I’m afraid it’s very clearly written on the wall this morning,” Sir Robert Buckland told Sky News on Thursday. “The Prime Minister … has no choice but to step down.
“It’s an unreal situation now,” he said. “It’s absurd and we have to end this farce now.”
Buckland’s comments came as ministerial resignations continued on Thursday, with Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis becoming the latest high-profile exit.
Others who resigned Thursday include Treasury Secretary Helen Whately, Security Minister Damian Hines, Science Minister George Freeman, Pension Minister Guy Opperman, Parliament Minister James Cartlidge and Chris Philp, Minister of Technology and the Digital Economy .
“There is a word I fear [Johnson] you have to hear what it’s like to “go,” Buckland said.
The former Secretary of Justice said a new prime minister could be in office in “a period of about six weeks”.
“I think parliamentary voting could be held before the end of this legislature, and then if there needs to be a membership vote, it could be done in August and we could have a new leader in September,” he said.