Scandal-ridden Johnson resigns as UK prime minister; reactions pour in

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has officially announced his resignation from the post, following calls from ministerial colleagues and lawmakers in his ruling Conservative Party over a slew of highly contentious issues, including Brexit, coronavirus pandemic and successive scandals.

Johnson made the announcement outside his Downing Street residence in central London on Thursday, saying he had tried to persuade colleagues that changing the government’s leader would be “eccentric” but he failed, and that he was “sad to be giving up the best job in the world.”

"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 … that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week. And I've today appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until the new leader is in place,” the British premier said in a statement.

"In the last few days, I've tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate and when we're actually only a handful of points behind in the polls,” he added.

"And to you, the British public, I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them's the breaks.”

Following the announcement, British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was concentrating on the job at hand as Johnson confirmed his resignation as Conservative Party leader.

Patel said she would continue to lead the Home Office, stressing that her role demands she remains "entirely focused on the business of government and our national security.”

“At this critical time my duty is to continue to lead this Great Office of State, to protect the national security, and keep citizens of our country safe," she said.

Johnson’s resignation came after earlier media reports said he had agreed to step down amid a growing rebellion within his Conservative party over a series of scandals and after more than 50 ministers quit.

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Finance Minister Rishi Sunak were the latest to resign from their posts in protest at Johnson's leadership, with Javid saying he "can no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government," while Sunak criticized the government's lack of competence.

The string of resignations follows months of scandals and missteps, including a damning report into parties that broke strict COVID-19 lockdowns and the resignation of Conservative legislator Neil Parish in April, after he was caught watching pornography on his mobile phone in the House of Commons. He was disqualified from sitting in parliament.

Johnson has also been grilled for not taking sufficient steps to tackle a cost-of-living crisis, with many people in the UK struggling to cope with soaring fuel and food prices.

SS