Boris Johnson has resigned. What happens next in the UK?

After months of scandal and a wave of resignations, Boris Johnson has agreed to stand down as UK prime minister.

Mashable SEA July 7, 2022

Boris Johnson has resigned. What happens next in the UK?

For both those in the United Kingdom and those outside, the questions right now are endless. The main one, however, is: what the hell is going on?

Boris Johnson, the prime minister of the UK, resigned today. The leader, in 2019, was elected in one of the biggest victories for the Conservative Party in decades. Since then, his time in power has been tainted by multiple political scandals. In case you're not across it all, we've broken it all down.

"Our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader," Johnson said in his resignation speech delivered outside 10 Downing Street on Thursday. He thanked the the public for the "immense privilege" and and expressed "how sad" he is to be "giving up the best job in the world".

"But them's the breaks," he added.

Johnson also said he will serve until a new leader is in place and that the timetable for the process will be announced next week. He tweeted later on Thursday afternoon, saying, "I want you to know that from now until my successor is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on."

What just happened in the UK?

The BBC announced that Johnson is to stand down as Conservative leader today. The PM told Sir Graham Brady, head of the 1922 Committee, of his decision on Thursday morning.

In the past week, over 50 members of the party stepped down. These are more resignations than any other PM has faced in 90 years. The tsunami of resignations began on Tuesday, with two senior ministers, Rishi Sunak (chancellor of the Exchequer) and Sajid Javid (secretary of state for health and social care). Javid, delivering his resignation speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday, said, "Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months."

“The events of recent months have made it increasingly difficult to be in [the] team," the now former minister said.

Pressure on Johnson on Tuesday and Wednesday mounted as ministers continued to step down. Remaining and newly appointed ministers joined in encouraging the PM to resign. Notably, Nadhim Zahawi, Sunak's replacement as chancellor, released a statement this morning telling Johnson to "do the right thing and go now." Zahawi has been widely criticised on social media for accepting the position and yet asking for Johnson's resignation shortly after.

Why is Boris Johnson resigning?

So, what's behind this deluge of resignations and the loss of confidence amongst party members?

Johnson's position of power was put in serious peril back in November 2021, when news broke of illicit parties held by government members and staff during strict COVID-19 lockdowns. At the time, such gatherings were prohibited by the government in the interest of public health, leading to outrage and accusations of hypocrisy. These lockdown parties caused the scandal labelled Partygate, can be considered a key controversy in the lead-up to Johnson's resignation, as well as the motivation behind the vote of no confidence which Johnson survived in June.

Sexual misconduct allegations against Conservative lawmakers have followed, intensifying condemnation towards the party. Most recently, deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, was accused of sexual misconduct, with new claims leading to his resignation. The PM appointed Pincher, and was accused of being aware of such claims against the former MP. Johnson later admitted he was in the know of a complaint made against Pincher in 2019.

Such troubles are largely behind the crumbling of the cabinet and the ultimate ousting of Johnson — who appeared to bounce back after every controversy and critique until now. Just last month, he withstood a vote of no confidence, narrowly winning to remain as Conservative leader. But after days of resignations from senior Cabinet ministers, and months of volatility prior, his time is coming to an end.

Meanwhile, the pound sterling, Britain's currency, and British stocks have risen upon news of Johnson's resignation. On Tuesday, as ministers began to step down, the pound hit a two-year low against the dollar but is facing a turnaround now.

Who will take over from the prime minister?

There will not automatically be a new general election to replace the Prime Minister.

The BBC reports that Johnson wants to continue to be PM until the autumn. This is in order for the Conservative Party to select a new leader, with a Tory leadership contest to take place. Essentially, there must always be a prime minister in office, with either Johnson remaining in the post or recommending that the Queen appoint someone as PM until a new leader is elected.

The election for a new party leader requires candidates to have the support of eight Conservative MPs. If more than two candidates are subsequently declared, Tory MPs take a series of votes. Once two candidates remain, all Conservative Party members around the country will vote for the winner who becomes prime minister.

Some of top candidates for this post are mused to be Sunak, Javid, Zahawi, foreign secretary Liz Truss, defense secretary Ben Wallace, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, and foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat.

There is already pushback against the news that Johnson could carry on as PM for the coming months. Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland, says that it is "not sustainable" for Johnson to remain in leadership.

Others express similar sentiments, including George Freeman, the former minister for science, research and innovation, who was one of those who resigned this week. Freeman tweeted that Johnson should allow the Queen to appoint a caretaker prime minister in the interim, "so the Conservative Party can choose a new leader properly."

Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposing Labour party, released a statement on Twitter welcoming the "good news" of the resignation, while stipulating, "It should have happened long ago. He was always unfit for office. He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale. And all those who have been complicit should be utterly ashamed."

Following the events of this morning, London mayor and former Labour MP, Sadiq Khan, tweeted that this has been "one of the most shameful sagas in the history of British politics."

BBC News journalist Brian Wheeler wrote of Johnson, "[He] has defied the normal rules of politics for so long, it is hard to believe he is actually going."

Johnson has appointed a full new cabinet this morning, replacing the many MPs who resigned.

Has a prime minister resigned before?

Johnson is the latest in a line of prime ministers who resigned. His predecessor, Theresa May, resigned in 2019 when she failed to secure a Brexit deal. Former Conservative leader David Cameron did the same in 2016, when the UK voted to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum.

Other PMs to have resigned include Gordon Brown in 2010 and Margaret Thatcher in 1990.

If Johnson is to outlive May's term, he'd have to spend another 28 days in office. Still, his time as prime minister is one of the shortest in recent history.

When is Johnson giving his resignation speech?

Johnson issued a statement and resignation speech on Thursday, was broadcast live on BBC News. You can watch through iPlayer (turn on your VPN if you're outside the UK) or watch the whole thing on YouTube below: