Boris Johnson resignation latest – Rishi’s popularity SURGING among Tory MPs as favourite to replace PM
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DOZENS OF Tory MPs have thrown their support behind former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation.
Former Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden is among the seven MPs who have tweeted their support of Mr Sunak’s leadership bid using the hashtag #ready4rishi.
In a statement shared on social media, he said: “Rishi is the best person to lead our country and unquestionably the best person to beat Labour. That’s why I’m backing him to be our next Prime Minister.”
Others who tweeted their support were Dr Liam Fox, Mark Harper, Paul Maynard, Sir Bob Neill, Mel Stride, and Jacob Young.
Read our Boris Johnson live blog below for the latest up-to-date news...
Many gathered outside to watch his statement
Crowds of people gathered outside to watch Boris Johnson's statement.
Boris Johnson's resignation speech in full
Boris said: "Good afternoon. Thank you. 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. I've agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week. I've today appointed a cabinet to serve as I will until a new leader is in place.
"So I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many of them voted Conservative for the first time. Thank you for that incredible mandate, the biggest Conservative majority since 1987. The biggest share of the vote since 1979. And the reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person was not just because I wanted to do so because I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to continue to do what we promised in 2019.
"Of course, I'm immensely proud of the achievements of this government from getting Brexit done to settling our relations with the continent for over half a century - reclaiming the power for this country to make its own laws. In parliament, getting us all through the pandemic, delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, the fastest exit from lockdown, and in the last few months, leading the West in standing up to Putin's aggression in Ukraine. Let me say that to the people of Ukraine that I know that we in the UK will continue to back your fight for freedom for as long as it takes.
"At the same time in this country we've been pushing forward a vast programme of investment in infrastructure and skills and technology - the biggest in a century. If I have one insight into human beings, it is that genius and talent and enthusiasm and imagination are evenly distributed throughout the population, but opportunity is not. That's why we must keep levelling up, keep unleashing the potential in every part of the United Kingdom. If we can do that in this country we will be the most prosperous in Europe.
"In the last few days I’ve tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments where we are 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, even in midterm after quite a few months in pretty relentless sledging, and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally. I regret and not to have been successful in those arguments and of course it's painful, and not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.
"But as we've seen, a Westminster the herd instinct is powerful when the herd moves, it moves, and my friends, in politics, no one is remotely indispensable. Our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times. Not just helping families to get through it, but changing and improving the way we do things – cutting burdens on businesses and families and yes, cutting taxes. Because that is the way to generate the growth and the income we need to pay for great public services.
"To that, new leader, I say wherever he or she may be I say I will give you as much support as I can. 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. I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them's the breaks.
"I want to thank Carrie, our children and all members of my family who have had to put up with so much for so long. I want to thank the peerless British civil service for all the help and support that you have given our police, our emergency services and of course our fantastic NHS who at a critical moment helped to extend my own period in office, as well as our armed services and our agencies that are so admired around the world, and our indefatigable Conservative Party members and supporters whose selfless campaigning makes our democracy possible.
"I want to thank the wonderful staff here at No10 and of course at Chequers. Above all, I want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege that you have given me. I want you to know that from now on until the new Prime Minister is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on.
"Being Prime Minister is an education in itself. I've travelled to every part of the United Kingdom and in addition to the beauty of our natural world, I found so many people possessed of such boundless British originality and so willing to tackle old problems in new ways that I know that even if things can sometimes seem dark now, our future together is golden.
"Thank you all very much."
Priti Patel - 'My duty is to continue to lead this Great Office'
Priti Patel says she is concentrating on the job at hand as Boris Johnson confirms his resignation.
She Tweeted: "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."
Carrie Johnson and baby Romy support Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson's wife Carrie joined his supporters outside Downing Street today as the PM quit.
Mrs Johnson carried their daughter Romy in a sling and applauded as he addressed the nation this afternoon.
The politician told Brits he has decided to step down after facing one of the biggest rebellions in the country's political history.
And he shared a special word for his wife and children.
"The reason I have fought so hard in the past two days to continue to deliver our mandate in person is not just because I wanted to do so, but because I felt it was my job, duty, and obligation to you," he told voters.
How will the next Tory leader be selected?
Tory leadership elections take place in two stages.
The first stage involves shortlisting candidates for party chief. An MP needs the support of 8 colleagues to make the shortlist.
Once the list is complete two rounds of voting take place to shrink it.
All Tory MPs are allowed to cast votes.
Candidates who don’t meet a certain threshold in the two rounds are eliminated.
Next a further series of ballots take place and in each of these the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated until only two people remain.
Then stage two kicks off.
The entire Tory membership – not just MPs – vote for who they’d prefer of the two final names.
The winner becomes the next PM.
Timescales for the entirety of Tory leadership elections are determined by the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs.
PM has made 'the right' decision
Boris Johnson has finished his speech, and we finally hear from Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
Boris Johnson QUITS ‘best job in the world’
In front of a packed Downing Street he thanked his supporters and the millions who voted for him but said: "My friends, in politics, no one is remotely indispensable."
He said he was "immensely proud of the achievements of this government" such as Brexit and the vaccine rollout.
Carrie Johnson held their daughter Romy as she gathered in Downing St with the PM's loyalists.
'Being Prime Minister is an education in itself'
Boris ended his speech saying: "Being Prime Minister is an education in itself - I've travelled to every part of UK and I've found so many people possessed of such boundless British originality and so willing to tackle old problems in new ways.
"Even if things can sometimes seem dark now, our future together is golden,"
'The heard has moved and when it does it moves quickly'
Boris Johnson claimed that the "heard has moved quickly" referring to all those that have resigned.
Boris decision was a 'painful' one to make
In an address outside No10, the defeated PM finally announced his "painful" decision to quit after conceding he could no longer cling on.
"Our future together is golden"
Boris has thanked everyone as he states that "our future together is golden" as he will remain serving until a new PM is found.
Boris has taken the time to thank staff at NO 10 that are out standing with him.
He said this is one group that "never leave".
We will continue to level up
We must keep levelling up, keep unleashing the potential of every part of the United Kingdom, Johnson continues.
Boris will continue to serve until a new leader is found
Boris has claimed he will serve until a new leader has been found.
Timetable for new leader next week - Boris
Boris Johnson says the process of choosing the new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week.
Boris addresses Ukrainians
The people of the UK will continue to "fight" for Ukraine's freedom.
It has been my "duty to continue to do what I have promised to do" Boris has claimed.
The 'will of the party'
It is the "will of the party" that there should be a new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Boris Johnson makes his way to the podium
Boris Johnson is now giving his speech.
Small group of MP's outside
Not a lot of MP's that have gathered outside to show their support to Boris Johnson.
Boris speech just moments away
The podium is out
The podium has been placed outside of NO 10.
Boris will begin speaking shortly.
Boris will make his statement shortly
Not long now until Boris will make his resignation statement.
It is expected he will begin his speech at 12:30pm.
Andrew Stephenson appointed
Andrew Stephenson has been appointed Minister without Portfolio.
Shailesh Vara appointed
Shailesh Vara has been appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
He replaces Brandon Lewis, who resigned from the post today.