Finally, UK PM Boris Johnson, Resigns

Boris Johnson, the UK’s prime minister since 2019 and the spearhead of the 2016 Brexit campaign, resigned today.

Johnson’s resignation follows a huge revolt from his Conservative party, during which more than 50 lawmakers resigned in a 36-hour period starting on Tuesday night, when Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Sajid Javid, the health secretary, quit the government. Many of those resigning said they could no longer continue to serve under Johnson, and most called for him to step down.

In a speech outside 10 Downing Street today Johnson said he would stay on as prime minister until a new leader is selected.

Addressing the British people, Johnson said: “I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world; but them’s the breaks.”

Why Boris Johnson quit as prime minister

Scandal and controversy have dogged Johnson’s government and the man himself, particularly in the last months. In April, Johnson was fined for breaking his own laws, by attending and permitting several parties during the UK’s covid 19 lockdown. At least one party was at his official residence, 10 Downing Street.
In June, Johnson’s ethics advisor, Christopher Geidt, resigned, citing the prime minister’s willingness to break his own ministerial code. Later that month, the Conservatives lost two important by-elections by large margins, indicating that the party’s mandate was becoming less secure. Johnson argued to the last that his huge mandate—his December 2019 general election win with a landslide majority—meant he should continue even in the face of great internal opposition.

The final straw for many came at the end of June when Chris Pincher, the Conservative deputy chief whip, resigned after allegedly groping two guests at a private members’ club. Johnson initially denied having ever been told of any specific allegations against Pincher, but later admitted that he had been briefed on the issue in 2019.

Ministerial resignations and calls to leave

After Javid and Sunak’s back-to-back resignations, Johnson faced a slew of ministers leaving their jobs and distancing themselves from his leadership. Some ministers—unusually—called for him to resign while not resigning themselves.