Great Britain
Prime Minister Johnson resigns as party leader
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Justin Tallis/PA Wire/dpa
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In the end he was left with almost no government. Now Boris Johnson has drawn the necessary conclusions from the mass resignations of cabinet members. But the Prime Minister does not want to vacate Downing Street just yet.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of his Conservative Party. But he wants to continue as prime minister until a successor is elected, Johnson said in London on Thursday. He himself was elected to office by his party almost three years ago.
Shortly before his resignation, Johnson appointed new ministers. However, numerous party friends are calling for the 58-year-old to step down as head of government immediately. The opposition is demanding a new election.
Johnson has come under massive pressure in recent days. Several cabinet members and dozens of parliamentary government officials resigned from their posts. Most recently, Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who was appointed to office on Tuesday, even called on him to resign.
Like Secretary of State Liz Truss and Secretary of Commerce Penny Mardaunt, Zahawi is considered a possible successor. Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace leads in polls. So far, only Attorney General Suella Braverman has officially announced her candidacy.
Labor leader Keir Starmer welcomed Johnson’s resignation. However, he demanded that a “fresh start” was now necessary. “We need a Labor government,” Starmer said. “We are ready.”
The most recent government crisis in Westminster was triggered by an affair involving Johnson’s party colleague Chris Pincher, who is accused of sexual harassment. Earlier it emerged that Johnson knew of previous, similar allegations against Pincher, but nonetheless hoisted him to an important faction office. His spokesman had previously denied this several times.