Following mass resignations by over 50 Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister of UK, Boris Johnson, was on Thursday compelled to step down. Putting in his papers, Boris expressed his ‘regret’ at his inability to hold onto his position as Prime Minister while stressing that he is ‘immensely proud’ of his achievements in office.
“The process of choosing a new leader should begin now. And today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will until a new leader is in place,” Johnson said during his address at 10 Downing Street in London. “It is clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party, and therefore a new prime minister,” Johnson said.
He said, “I regret not being successful as I was not able to see through so many ideas and projects,” adding that he will continue to support the new leader as much as he can.
Almost 30 UK government officials, including key figures like UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, have already submitted their resignations over the recent scandal involving former deputy chief whip Christopher Pincher.
With the resignation of the UK prime minister, the quest for a new leader has begun in full steam. Reports suggest that the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is the frontrunner for the much-coveted post.
Earlier on Thursday, another minister of his government, Brandon Lewis resigned from his position, saying that he no longer believed the values of honesty, integrity and mutual respect are being upheld by Johnson’s government.
A total of 58 ministers quit the government following an ethics scandal which ultimately forced the UK premier to resign.
Johnson agreed to step down after one of his closest allies, Treasury Chief Nadhim Zahawi, told the prime minister to resign for the good of the country.
“Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country,” Zahawi said in a letter to Johnson. “You must do the right thing and go now.”
The British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has also cut short her trip to a G20 meeting in Indonesia to return to London as she is widely seen as one of the potential contenders for the leader of the Conservative Party.
Johnson, 58, managed to remain in power for almost three years, despite allegations that he was too close to party donors, that he protected supporters from bullying and corruption allegations, and that he misled Parliament and was dishonest to the public about government office parties that broke pandemic lockdown rules.
However, Johnson could continue to remain in office until October when the Conservative party meets for its annual conference so that his replacement is found.