Boris Johnson resignation latest – Rishi’s popularity SURGING among Tory MPs as favourite to replace PM

When is Boris Johnson's wedding party?

The wedding party for Boris, 58, and Carrie, 34, is planned for the end of the month, July 30, 2022.

Despite marrying in May last year, the couple wanted to throw the party because Covid had limited guests at the original wedding.

Johnson could still be in his position as caretaker Prime Minister at that time, unless the decision to remove him is made.

A leadership race is now on within the Tory party while Johnson remains in Downing Street.

Piers Morgan accuses Boris of ‘squatting’ in No10

Piers Morgan has accused Boris Johnson of "squatting" in No10 - and demanded he step down now so Dominic Raab can take over.

The TV firebrand, a long-standing critic of the PM, hit out as Mr Johnson assembled his 'zombie cabinet'.

The politician has vowed to continue working on until his successor is appointed - which could be as late as October.

But Piers, who fronts Piers Morgan: Uncensored for TalkTV, says he must go immediately.

He tweeted: "This is a ridiculous situation.

"Boris Johnson is squatting at No10 with a dismally lightweight makeshift cabinet.

"He must go, Raab must take over as interim PM and restore all ministers who quit until a new leader is chosen.

"These are serious times - Britain needs to be governed."

Mr Johnson announced his resignation yesterday after he was hobbled by one of the largest political rebellions in British history.

Police statement on Starmer and Rayner

Following the emergence of significant new information, an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary into a gathering at the Miners’ Hall, in Redhills, Durham on 30th April 2021.

That investigation has now concluded.

A substantial amount of documentary and witness evidence was obtained which identified the 17 participants and their activities during that gathering.

Following the application of the evidential Full Code Test, it has been concluded that there is no case to answer for a contravention of the regulations, due to the application of an exception, namely reasonably necessary work.

Accordingly, Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken.

The investigation has been thorough, detailed and proportionate.

The final evidence supplied by participants from the local constituency was returned to Durham Police on 5th July and analysed by investigators against all the evidence before the investigation was concluded on 8th July 2022.

In line with established national policing guidelines, we will not name or otherwise identify any of those present at the gathering, all of whom have been informed of the investigation outcome by their legal representatives.

Has a King or Queen dissolved Parliament before?

The Queen must give her permission for an election to take place, and she has the power to refuse such a request if it breaches certain constitutional conventions. 

The last dissolution of Parliament was in November 2019 to make way for the general election, which Boris Johnson won.

Parliament is dissolved 25 days before the general election, which happens every five years.

The Prime Minister visits the monarch and asks them to dissolve Parliament to allow for campaigning and the public to vote.

In 1979, Labour PM James Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence, leading to the Queen dissolving parliament, therefore giving the public the right to vote in the next Government.

However, the Queen can refuse a request to dissolve Parliament.

Can the Queen dissolve Parliament?

Historically, the monarch is able to dissolve Parliament and does so at the end of each term.

This usually happens every five years but can be brought forward by royal proclamation.

When the Queen dissolves Parliament, all Members of Parliament are dismissed and a general election is called.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 meant an election could only be called outside the five-year Parliamentary cycle by one of two scenarios - if two-thirds of the House of Commons voted in favour of one, or if the Government lost a vote of no confidence.

But the power to call a snap election was reinstated by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022.

Parliament is dissolved to make way for a general election, which formally removes all MPs.

Rishi can beat Starmer

Rishi Sunak is the only Tory leadership candidate who could beat Keir Starmer in a general election, a poll suggests.

The former Chancellor pipped the Labour leader, left, by one point.

Lagging in the JL Partners survey of more than 2,000 people are Nadhim Zahawi, Sajid Javid, Ben Wallace, Jeremy Hunt, Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt.

A Tory MP said: “When it comes to picking a new leader MPs are only concerned with two things. Can they win an election? And what is in it for them?”

Boris Chequers wedding party moved after criticism

A wedding party for Boris and Carrie will no longer be held at the prime minister's country house following criticism of the venue choice.

According to reports plans had been made for a party at Chequers in July.

A No 10 source has however revealed that "nothing had been 100% firmed up" and an alternative location will now be used.

‘Zombie’ Cabinet

A furious campaign to stop Boris Johnson limping on in Downing Street for another three months was thundering tonight.

As the PM assembled his "zombie Cabinet" in No10, a pincer movement of angry Tories and Labour was plotting to prize him out.

Critics demanded Mr Johnson resign immediately and make way for a caretaker PM like Dominic Raab rather than wait until October.

In his resignation speech this afternoon the PM vowed to stick around while a new Tory leader.

A timetable will be announced next week but is expected to drag on throughout the summer and into the autumn.

Top Tories lashed the PM for hopelessly clinging on and ramped up efforts to get him out as soon as possible.

Senior MP Sir Bob Neill said: "We should look to have this result not by October, I think, we should do it in the summer.

"Nowadays most people are on email, we can do it quite easily."

What did Boris Johnson say about staying on as caretaker PM?

Speaking outside Downing Street earlier, the PM said: “I’ve agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now.

“The timetable will be announced next week.

“And I’ve today appointed a Cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place.”

New parliamentary appointments announced

A new secretary has been introduced to the Cabinet Office.

Heather Wheeler will not be the parliamentary secretary for the Office, and Guy Opperman is the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Julie Marson is the under-secretary of state for the DWF and assistant government whip.

Boris Johnson's eye-watering refurb on No 11

The lavish upgrade to the apartment reportedly cost £200,000.

Reportedly, Boris and Carrie Johnson spent the staggering amount of money on luxury furnishings for the apartment.

A leaked invoice from Soane shockingly claims that the two spent £2,250 on hard crafted gold wallpaper.

£7,000 was spent on a rug and a staggering £15,000 on two sofas.

According to the Independent, the total bill cost £208,104.

Click here for a sneak peak at next door's No 10.

Tories want a new PM by early September

Boris Johnson will not be removed just yet, he will stay put as a caretaker of the role.

The members of the 1922 Committee want a successor lined up by 5 September.

Ukrainians sombre as Boris Johnson resigns

The Prime Minister has proven to be popular in Ukraine, after he pledged to help the nation.

Civilians living in Ukraine have given their thoughts on Boris's resignation.

Speaking to NBC, Olha Povaliaeva said: "Johnson quitting is a personal tragedy for me."

On Thursday, President Zelenskiy called Prime Minister a "friend".

Psychic seal predicts who will be the next Prime Minister

Banana from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek has given her seal of approval for the next leader.

The seal predicted the Euros 2020 outcome, and has now indicated that Ben Wallace will be the next PM, in her humbled opinion.

Tom Walker records Tory party protest song

He warned the Conservatives, "the party's nearly over".

The music artist said he wrote the song to vent about the political situation and the scandals that have ensued over the past two years.

He told Sky News: "To see politics trending more than Love Island, you know that says something about what is happening in government right now.

"When a huge TV show that a lot of young people absolutely love is being completely put down in the trends list by a government that's being disassembled moment by moment as people set out to resign.

"People have got to the point where they fell like they have to focus in on what's going on because it is unprecedented, and we've never seen anything like this before."

Rishi Sunak for Prime Minister?

He has put himself forward to be the new leader of government, replacing Boris Johnson.

Rishi Sunak has thrown his hat into the ring to become Tory leader with a promise to rebuild trust following the tumultuous premiership of Boris Johnson.

'Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions'

Rishi posted a slick video on Twitter, he said: "I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.

"Let's restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the economy."

In the cinematic clip Mr Sunak played up his work as Chancellor during Covid.

And in a swipe at leadership rivals preparing to pledge tax cuts, he slammed "comforting fairy-tales" that would harm us in the long run.

He said: "Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions."

Seven new ministerial positions filled

• Richard Fuller becomes Economic Secretary to the Treasury
• Alan Mak Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
• Stuart Andrew Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice
• Sarah Dines Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, jointly at the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office
• Rehman Chishti Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office
• Lia Nici Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Brendan Clarke-Smith Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education

Is Tom Tugendhat running for Prime Minister?

After Boris Johnson's resignation, Tugendhat said he would run for Prime Minister.

The backbencher said he would offer a fresh start to the Conservative Party.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph he said: "I have served before - in the military, and now in Parliament.

"Now I hope to answer the call once again as prime minister. It's time for a clean start. It's time for renewal."

There are a multitude of MPs who have been mentioned in regards to taking up the mantle.

Front runners are Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Sajid Javid but the race is yet to be narrowed down.

Who is Tom Tugendhat?

Born on June 27, 1973, Tom Tugendhat is the son of High Court judge Sir Michael Tugendhat.

He is also the nephew of Lord Tugendhat, the former EU Vice President.

Tugendhat studied Theology at Bristol University before doing a masters in Islamic studies and learning Arabic in Yemen.

He has been the MP for Tonbridge and Malling in Kent since 2015.

During the 2000s and 2010s, Tugendhat joined the Army, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

While he voted against Brexit, he has worked to uphold the party line and push through an agreement.

He is Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee but has never served in government.

Major crunch meeting on Monday 

BORIS Johnson has vowed to stand down as Prime Minister by October, but restless rebels and the Labour Party want him gone sooner.

Tory MPs fuming at the PM's decision to cling until October will try and influence the timetable for crowning their new leader next week.

Some rebels want the process to be as quick as possible because once a new Tory leader is chosen, Mr Johnson has to exit No10.

A well-placed MP told The Sun they represent “the widespread view of the party.”

Next Monday the 1922 committee of backbench MPs will meet to vote on a new executive team.

Almost immediately the new team will then have the power to decide on leadership election timings.

Hard core anti-Boris Tories want the race to be as quick as possible.

Who is invited to Boris Johnson's wedding party?

A list of people invited to Boris and Carrie's wedding party has not been revealed.

It is set to be larger than their wedding, which was limited to 30 guests during Covid restrictions.

Friends and family are likely to be invited, along with co-workers and dignitaries.

Although the guest list may have been reduced after the barrage of resignations from other Tories.

Over 50 ministers and other government members handed in their notice to force the PM out, including a 36-hour U-turn from new hire Michelle Donelan.

Johnson also fired long time colleague Michael Gove during the chaos.

Where is Boris Johnson's wedding party?

Initially, it was revealed this large party was planned to take place at Chequers.

A No 10 source said "nothing had been 100% firmed up" so an alternative location has now been chosen.

This was after public outcry after rumours emerged that Johnson wanted to remain as caretake PM partly in order to keep the party at the estate.

Johnson will lose his right to us Chequers freely when removed from Downing Street as he is no longer PM.

The 16th century estate is situated at the foot of Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire and is publicly owned.

Prime Ministers were gifted the home to act as a country house granting reprieve from busy London life.

Sir Arthur Lee donated the 1,500 acre estate in hopes to encourage better health in the PM, believing "the better the health of our rulers the more sanely will they rule."