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 had not yet been made. Johnson had rejected calls from his cabinet to resign in the wake of the ethics scandals. He backed down when more than 40 ministers resigned from his government and told him to leave. It was not immediately clear whether Johnson would remain in office while the Conservative Party chooses a new leader to replace him as prime minister. Minutes before the news broke, Treasury chief Nadhim Zahawi called on Johnson to step down just 36 hours after Johnson installed him, while another newly appointed minister quit her post. Zahawi said Johnson knew “the right thing to do” was to “leave now.” Zahawi was appointed late on 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 after her predecessor resigned, announced her resignation on Thursday morning. Johnson had dismissed calls for his resignation, nipping at his heels even as dozens of officials resigned and previously staunch allies urged him to step on after yet another scandal engulfed his leadership.
He clung to power amid resignations
A group of Johnson’s most trusted ministers visited him in his Downing Street office on Wednesday, telling him to resign after losing the confidence of his party. But Johnson chose to fight for his political career and sacked one of his cabinet officials, Michael Gove, British media reported. It is rare for a prime minister to hold on to office in the face of this much pressure from his cabinet colleagues. The Guardian’s front page on Thursday called him “Desperate, Deluded”. “He has violated the trust that was placed in him. He has to recognize that he no longer has the moral authority to lead. And for him, it’s over,” Scottish National Party leader Ian Blackford told The Associated Press. Johnson, 58, was known for his knack for getting out of tight spots. He has remained in power despite allegations that he was too close to party donors, that he shielded his supporters from allegations of intimidation and corruption, and that he misled Parliament and was dishonest with the public about governing parties flouting pandemic lockdown rules. WATCHES | Boris Johnson resists calls to resign despite ministers and staff fleeing:
Boris Johnson is resisting calls for him to resign despite an exodus of ministers and staff
However, recent revelations that Johnson knew about allegations of sexual harassment against Chris Pincher, a Tory MP, before he promoted the man to a senior position, proved to be the last straw. Last week, Pincher resigned as deputy chief following allegations that he molested two men at a private club. That sparked a series of reports about earlier complaints against Pincher – and shifting explanations from the government about what Johnson knew when he asked him for a senior party discipline post.
Top ministers resigned
Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak resigned within minutes of each other on Tuesday over the scandal. The two cabinet heavyweights were responsible for tackling two of the biggest issues facing Britain – the cost of living crisis and COVID-19. Javid captured the mood of many lawmakers 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 come to the conclusion that enough is enough,” he told his fellow lawmakers on Wednesday. “I think that point is now.”
