Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as Conservative leader this afternoon after over 50 of his MPs resigned their government positions, including several senior cabinet ministers. Mr Johnson intends to stay as prime minister until a replacement is chosen.
He said: "It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister. And I’ve agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week."
Several prominent MPs are expected to throw their hat into the ring in the coming leadership contest, including some from Surrey.
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Key Events
Decision likened to dumping of sewage
Boris Johnson being forced to quit as Tory leader has been likened at Westminster to the dumping of sewage.
The parallel was drawn by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oates, as he opened a parliamentary debate on polluting discharges into rivers by water companies, which coincided with the resignation statement.
The Prime Minister intends to remain in No 10 until his successor is elected, but he faces resistance to that plan from within his own party and the Opposition.
Country's security 'at risk'
Labour MP Chris Bryant has said outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson could put the “country’s security and economy at risk” if he takes too long to relinquish power.
Mr Bryant told the PA news agency: “He hasn’t resigned so far, he said he’s going to resign later on this year.
“It’s now in the hands of the Conservative Party to decide how long that is going to take, if it is going to be a few days, OK, maybe he can stay.
“If it is going to be months he cannot stay, because that puts the country’s security and economy at risk because he will be a completely lame duck prime minister.
“I think we either have a new prime minister by the end of next week or there will certainly be a vote of confidence in the House of Commons.
“The whole of the Tory party are to blame for this, they put him in there and they took ages and ages to get to this point, even when he was clearly breaking every rule going.”
New Welsh Secretary doesn't rule out running
The new Secretary of State for Wales has declined to rule out running to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader.
Robert Buckland said: “What I’m focusing on is values. I talk a lot about One Nation politics. I’ve always been a one nation Conservative, moderate Conservative.”
Pressed on whether he had leadership ambitions, he said: “I will support a One Nation candidate. I woke up this morning not expecting to be a Cabinet minister, so I’ve learnt to expect the unexpected in politics.”
"Unwise" for Boris to stay in office
Former prime minister Sir John Major has written to the chairman of the Tory 1922 Committee to warn it is “unwise” for Boris Johnson to remain in office while his successor is chosen and suggested either an interim premier or a streamlined election process would be “in the national interest”.
Theresa May speaks out on 'caretaker PM' role
Former Prime Minister Theresa May has spoken out about a 'caretaker PM' role. There had been some rumours she may be asked to take on such a role.
She said: “I don’t think there’s going to be a caretaker Prime Minister in the sense of somebody else coming into that role.”
When did each Surrey MP call for Boris Johnson to resign?
Some have been critics of the prime minister for a long time, while others only called for him to go in the past 24 hours, and some didn't comment at all. Read our full story here.
Boris Johnson confirms that he will resign as prime minister
The prime minister said outside Downing Street: "It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister.
"And I’ve agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week."
Three new cabinet appointments announced
Downing Street has announced three new appointments to the cabinet:
- James Cleverly has been appointed as education secretary (replacing Michelle Donelan, who spent 36 hours in the role before resigning this morning).
Greg Clark is the new Levelling Up Secretary, replacing Surrey Heath's MP Michael Gove.
Kit Malthouse is now Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office.
Johnson 'to appoint new cabinet'
Boris Johnson is expected to make ministerial appointments as he seeks to continue in office despite his imminent resignation as Tory leader.
A Number 10 source said the Prime Minister will “shortly make new appointments”, despite preparing to address the nation and confirm he is standing down. The BBC is now reporting that a full replacement cabinet has been appointed - we will let you know who is in it as soon as we hear more.
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We're running a survey on who you think will replace Boris Johnson in Downing Street. Let us know your thoughts below!
Welcome to our live updates
It's a historic day in Westminster as Boris Johnson is expected to announce his resignation as prime minister later. Stay with us for all the latest as other senior Conservative MPs - including potentially some from Surrey - consider putting themselves forward to be his replacement.
