‘Giving up best job in the world’: Boris Johnson confirms resignation

London politics latest LIVE: Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms resignation

 

Prime Minister agreed to stand down after more than 50 MPs resign from Government 

 

By

Daniel Keane

Nicholas Cecil Political Editor

@nicholascecil

David Bond Deputy Political Editor

@djbond6873

 

The evening Standard, 07 July 2022

 

Boris Johnson said it is “clearly now the will" of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader.

 

Announcing his resignation in Downing Street, he said: “It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister.

 

“I've agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week.

 

“I've today appointed a Cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place."

 

Mr Johnson addressed the British public, telling them: “I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them’s the breaks.”

 

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The decision to step down comes after more than 50 Tory MPs quit the Government in a period of less than 48 hours.

 

Labour Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson must not be allowed to “cling on” in No 10 once he has resigned as Tory leader and threatened to use a Commons confidence motion to oust him.

 

Just hours before his resignation speech, Mr Johnson announced a string of new Cabinet appointments. James Cleverly was made Education Secretary, while Kit Malthouse was appointed Cabinet Office minister and Greg Clark announced as Levelling Up Secretary.