Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to resign, his office said Thursday, ending an unprecedented political crisis over his future that has paralyzed the British government.
An official in Johnson’s Downing Street office confirmed the prime minister would announce his resignation at a later date. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made.
Johnson rejected calls from his cabinet to step down after the ethics scandals. He surrendered after more than 40 ministers quit his government and told him to go.
It was not immediately clear whether Johnson would remain in office until the Conservative Party elects a new leader to replace him as prime minister.
Minutes before the news broke, Treasury chief Nadhim Zahawi called on Johnson to resign just 36 hours after Johnson appointed him to the post, while another newly appointed cabinet minister quit his post.
Zahawi said Johnson knew the “right thing” was to “go now.”
Zahawi was appointed late Tuesday to replace Rishi Sunak, who resigned, saying he could no longer support Johnson after a series of ethics scandals.
Some MPs point to the door as Johnson, right, speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday. (Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/Reuters)
Education Minister Michelle Donelan, who was also appointed on Tuesday following the resignation of her predecessor, announced her resignation on Thursday morning.
Johnson had dismissed rumblings of his resignation, digging in, even as dozens of officials quit and formerly staunch allies called for him to leave after yet another scandal engulfed his leadership.
Clung to power after resignations
A group of Johnson’s most trusted cabinet ministers visited him in his Downing Street office on Wednesday, telling him to stand down after losing the confidence of his party. But Johnson chose instead to fight for his political career and sacked one of his cabinet members, Michael Gove, British media reported.
It is rare for a prime minister to cling to office in the face of so much pressure from his cabinet colleagues. The Guardian’s front page on Thursday called him “Desperate, Deluded”.
“He violated the trust that was given to him. He has to admit that he no longer has the moral authority to lead. And it’s over for him,” Scottish National Party leader Ian Blackford told The Associated Press.
Johnson, 58, was known for his ability to get out of tight spots. He stayed in power despite accusations that he was too close to party donors, that he shielded his supporters from allegations of harassment and corruption, and that he misled parliament and was dishonest with the public about parties in government offices that broke rules on blocking the pandemic.
WATCH | Boris Johnson defies calls to resign despite exodus of ministers, staff:
Boris Johnson is defying calls to resign despite an exodus of ministers and officials
But recent revelations that Johnson knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against Chris Pincher, a Tory MP, before promoting the man to the top job proved to be the last straw.
Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip last week after complaints he groped two men at a private club. That sparked a flurry of reports about past allegations made against Pincher — and changing explanations from the government about what Johnson knew when he tapped him for a senior job enforcing party discipline.
Senior ministers resigned
Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak resigned within minutes on Tuesday over the scandal. The two cabinet members were responsible for tackling two of the biggest problems facing Britain – the cost of living crisis and COVID-19.
Javid captured the sentiments of many MPs when he said Johnson’s actions threatened to undermine the integrity of the Conservative Party and the British government.
“At some point we have to conclude that enough is enough,” he told fellow MPs on Wednesday. “I believe the point is now.”
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