Boris Johnson will step down as prime minister of the UK, after a tumultuous week that saw a record number of Conservative MPs resign in a single day.
He will leave No. 10 Downing Street after three years in the role, stating, “No one in politics is remotely indispensable.”
However, he vowed to stay on in the job until a successor is appointed, angering critics within the party.
Johnson’s position as Tory leader had become untenable after more than 50 resignations from his government and backbench Conservative MPs, beginning with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday.
The mass rebellion was sparked by allegations that Johnson had been aware of inappropriate behaviour involving a member of the Party, but had appointed him to a senior position earlier in the year.
He had also faced public pressure to step down after being fined by police for breaching COVID rules; he had been pictured at a Downing Street party, in spite of the rules at the time which banned indoor gatherings of more than two people.
As he announced his decision to step down, Johnson hit out at the rebel MPs.
“At Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves,” he said.
While Johnson stated the process of finding a new leader of the party will begin now, he has indicated he is prepared to stay on as a caretaker prime minister until the party conference in the autumn.
The move has sparked criticism from former Prime Minister John Major who called it an “unwise” and “unsustainable” position.
It remains unclear exactly when Johnson will leave No. 10 for the final time; his new Cabinet is due to meet later today.
The Prime Minister @BorisJohnson makes a statement. https://t.co/EfgXuyazjw
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 7, 2022
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