U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is no stranger to scandal and controversy. In fact, up until now, he has managed to shrug off what, for others, would be career-ending. However, his Teflon wore off as he abruptly announced his resignation. The embattled Prime Minister was facing calls from within his party to step down amid a string of controversies; several ministers and government aides quit over the last 48 hours, saying Johnson was unfit to serve as Prime Minister.

Johnson avoided disaster in June, surviving a no-confidence vote that could have ousted him from power as discontent with his rule grew. Yet, he continued to fight for his political life.

Conservative members of parliament voted 211-148 in favor of letting Johnson stay in power during a secret ballot in Westminster. However, since Tuesday, more than 50 members of his government have resigned.

Watch as Boris Johnson announced on Thursday, outside the steps of Downing Street, that he is stepping down as the leader of the Conservative Party but will continue as prime minister “until a new leader is in place.”

“It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader and a new prime minister,” Johnson said outside 10 Downing Street Thursday morning. “The process of that should begin now. The timetable should be announced next week.”

“I regret not to have been successful in those arguments, and of course, it is painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself,” he added.

“As we have seen at Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful, and when the herd moves, it moves,” he said. “And my friends in politics, no one is remotely indispensable, and our brilliant Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times.”

Johnson says he will give the next Prime Minister “as much support as I can.”

“And to you, the British public, I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed, and I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world,” Johnson said.

“But them’s the breaks.”

“Above all, I want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege you have given me. And from now on until the new prime minister is in place, your interest will be served, and the government of the country will be carried on.”

On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, resigned from his post in direct protest against Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Sunak published his resignation as an open letter via social media, stating that he had lost faith in the cabinet and could no longer continue assisting Johnson due to a fundamental difference in vision for the United Kingdom.

The resignation of such a high-ranking member of Johnson’s cabinet surprised the public.

“The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously,” Sunak wrote. “I recognize this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for, and that is why I am resigning.”

Saqib Bhatti, the parliamentary private secretary, also resigned Tuesday, saying:

“The Conservative party has always been the party of integrity and honor, but recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life. It is for this reason that, sadly, I must resign. I will continue working hard for my constituents on the issues that matter to them.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he “fought so hard in the last few days to continue” because he felt it was his job, duty, and obligation to continue as PM.

Leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, says “It is good news for the country that Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister. But it should have happened long ago. He was always unfit for office.”

Johnson is stepping down as the leader of the Conservative Party but will continue as prime minister “until a new leader is in place.” Johnson said a new leader’s election timetable would be announced next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he “fought so hard in the last few days to continue” because he felt it was his job, duty, and obligation to continue as PM.

“To you, the British public, I know there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed, and I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world.”

“But them’s the breaks.”

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.