British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as Conservative leader

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister saying “I tried to stay in Downing St because it is my job, my duty and my obligation to do what we promised to do in 2019”.

Mr Johnson says “clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader” as he announced his resignation.

Boris Johnson says he is “immensely proud of the achievements of this Government”, from getting Brexit done to getting the UK through the pandemic, and leading the West in standing up to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.

“The herd has moved and when the herd moves, it moves quickly”

BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNATION SPEECH

The confirmation came shortly after Mr Johnson’s newly appointed Education Secretary Michelle Donelan resigned after just 36 hours in the post, and newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi told the prime minister to “go now”.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also confirmed he had withdrawn his support for the PM, and earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis resigned from his post.

There has been intense pressure on Mr Johnson to quit after more than 50 resignations from all levels of government, and waves of backbenchers appealing for him to go.

The resignation announcement fires the starting gun on what looks set to be a chaotic leadership battle. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss – expected to be a candidate – is cutting short a visit to Indonesia to return to the UK.  

Minutes after Mr Johnson apologised, saying appointing Mr Pincher was a “mistake”, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announce his departure, followed swiftly by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Keir Starmer threatened to call a Parliamentary confidence vote and try to force a general election if Mr Johnson does not leave immediately.

‘He needs to go completely. None of this nonsense about clinging on for a few months,’ he said. 

Ex-No10 chief Dominic Cummings wrote on Twitter: ‘Evict TODAY or he’ll cause CARNAGE, even now he’s playing for time & will try to stay

‘No ‘dignity’, no ‘interim while leadership contest’.

‘Raab shd be interim PM by evening.’

Another former minister, Nick Gibb, said: ‘As well as resigning as Party leader the PM must resign his office. 

Mr Johnson has spent the week refusing to resign.