Boris Johnson, addressing from a lectern outside No 10 said he is quitting as Tory leader, and the timetable for selecting a new leader and therefore a new prime minister would come as early as next week. He added that he would serve until a new leader is in place and thanked the British public to have given him immense privilege.
In a quick succession of events, apparently in a coordinated fashion, 32 British lawmakers and cabinet colleagues of Johnson resigned in 24 hours. The number today swelled above 50. Many of his ex-ministers, including Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health secretary Sajid Javed, were vocal that Johnson must go now.
However, according to Political Editor Chris Mason, Borris Johnson seems to have appointed a full replacement cabinet team. Johnson hopes to stay as a caretaker Prime Minister until Autumn while his Conservative party finds a successor. But Dominic Cummings, the right-hand man turned critic of Boris Johnson, wants the party to remove him as PM immediately. He tweeted, “Evict (Johnson) TODAY, or he’ll cause CARNAGE.”
The 1922 committee vice-chair wants Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab to be appointed as the interim PM until a contest for leadership is held and a successor is selected. Gary Sambrook, a Tory MP and executive of the committee said on Wednesday that Johnson must take responsibility and resign.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer, the opposition Labor party leader, said Boris Johnson must go. He must not try to cling to power when his own party has decided it’s time for him. He added that if the Tories failed to remove him as the PM immediately, his party would bring in a no-confidence motion against Johnson.
Boris Johnson survived a leadership challenge last month though it was a close call. However, he is now facing an end game with supporters shifting sides and wanting him to step down.
Image: The New Statesman