Following a series of mass resignations by Cabinet members, Boris Johnson on Thursday announced his resignation as the leader of Conservative Party and said that his party will elect a new leader and Prime Minister. While addressing the nation, Johnson said that he was proud of his achievements, adding that he will continue till a new leader is in place.
While announcing his resignation, Johnson thanked people for the 2019 mandate. Johnson, 58, will remain in charge as interim Prime Minister until the process of electing a new leader is completed by the time of the Conservative Party conference, scheduled for October.
“I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world,” Johnson said in an address to the nation outside 10 Downing Street – the official residence of the British Prime Minister.
Acknowledging that it was “clearly the will” of his party that he should go, Johnson said he was elected with the biggest majority since 1987 and the biggest share of the vote since 1979.
During his address, Johnson also mentioned Brexit and getting the country through the pandemic and delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe. The timetable for the contest will be announced next week, he said.
Johnson said that in politics, no one is “remotely indispensable”. He also promised to give the new leader as much support as he can.
Johnson vowed to “keep going” despite a wave of resignations from the government over his leadership but decided to step down from the top post earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party led the jubilant reaction to the imminent end of the Johnson-led Tory government, declaring it “good news for the country”.