Boris Johnson was set to resign as the British prime minister on Thursday morning, according to several British media outlets including the BBC.
The BBC, the state broadcaster, said that Johnson had agreed to resign but hoped to stay in office until the autumn.
Chris Mason, the BBC’s political editor, wrote: “Boris Johnson will resign as Conservative leader today - he will continue as Prime Minister until the autumn. A Conservative leadership race will take place this summer and a new Prime Minister will be in place in time for the Tory party conference in October.”
A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister will make a statement to the country today.”
Boris Johnson's 4 ministers resign
Johnson woke up Thursday morning in 10 Downing Street to another wave of resignations by government officials and party members declaring that the embattled prime minister must step down immediately — for the sake not only of his Conservative Party but for the country.
Before the breakfast shows on television were over, there were 53 resignations, including four Cabinet ministers in just two days. Many of the letters included brutal assessments of Johnson’s tenure and critiques of his honesty. Some pleaded with him to go.
Nadhim Zahawi, who was appointed chancellor, the second most important job in government on Tuesday, turned on Johnson on Thursday and told him to step down.
He tweeted: “Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now.”
Johnson had until now refused to bow to pressure to resign, saying that he has a 14-million vote mandate from the British voters who cast their ballots for him and his party in the last general election in 2019.
