In an address to the nation shortly after noon, Mr. Johnson announced his resignation but stated that he would remain in office until his successor is elected, a process that may take months.
After resigning as Conservative Party leader, Boris Johnson informed his cabinet members that his government will not seek to introduce new policies or make significant course corrections.
Mr. Johnson, addressing his reshuffled top team of ministers for the first time since resigning earlier on Thursday, stated that his top priority is “to continue delivering on manifesto pledges and ensuring the government is on the side of the public on the cost of energy, transport, and housing, as well as all other issues that matter to them.”
In addition, he stated that the administration would “concentrate on implementing the platform on which it was elected” and that “important fiscal issues should be left to the future prime minister.”
Mr. Johnson addressed his new cabinet for the first time, having replaced the avalanche of ministers who quit in protest against his leadership during the previous two days.
In an address to the nation shortly after noon, Mr. Johnson announced his resignation but stated that he would remain in office until his successor is elected, a process that may take months.
This triggered a response from prominent Conservatives, including former party leader Sir John Major, who wrote in a letter to the head of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, that it was “unwise and maybe untenable” for Mr. Johnson to remain in office until the fall.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has also promised to call a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, with the support of other opposition parties, if Conservative MPs cannot immediately unseat him.
Mr. Johnson stated in his address that he had struggled to remain prime minister over the past few days because he had a “responsibility” to the “millions of people who voted” for the Conservative Party in 2019.
“I have tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we are delivering so much, have such a large mandate, and are only a few points behind in the polls,” he explained.
However, he continued, “I regret that I was unsuccessful with those arguments.”
Next week, specifics of the leadership race to succeed Mr. Johnson will become obvious.
However, some of those considering bids for the role have begun to set up their stalls.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is rumored to be exploring a run for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
Both Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and former leveling-up secretary Michael Gove have withdrawn from the race.
According to the PA news agency, former health secretary Mr. Javid, who abruptly quit on Tuesday evening, is also debating whether to enter the campaign.
Matt Hancock, who was replaced by Sajid Javid for violating COVID regulations, is believed to be uninterested in a leadership candidacy.
Ben Wallace, speaking elsewhere before Mr. Johnson’s departure announcement, declined to comment on whether he would run to replace him.
During a visit to a military training camp in the north of England, the defense secretary, a leading candidate to replace Mr. Johnson, was asked if he would be seeking the top post.
He said, “Let’s hear what the prime minister has to say.”
Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the powerful Common Affairs Committee, is a senior Conservative lawmaker who is weighing whether or not to run.
In the previous 48 hours, the Prime Minister had been subjected to severe pressure to resign as a result of more than 50 resignations from the government payroll and waves of requests from backbenchers.
The mass uprising began on Tuesday after Downing Street confessed the Prime Minister was aware of allegations of inappropriate behavior against disgraced former Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher in 2019, yet appointed him in February and dispatched ministers to support him.
On Tuesday night, Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were the first to quit, but in the days that followed, MPs from all levels of government piled on letters and demands for him to go.
Mr. Johnson initially insisted he would remain in office, with a source from No. 10 stating on Thursday morning that he intended to “fight on.”
Downing Street acknowledged the PM’s resignation after the new education secretary, Michelle Donelan, resigned after only 36 hours on the job, and his newly appointed chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, publicly called for his resignation.
