Scandal-ridden Boris Johnson announced on Thursday he would quit as British prime minister after he dramatically lost the support of his ministers and most Conservative lawmakers, but said he would stay on on a caretaker basis until his successor was chosen.

Bowing to the inevitable as more than 50 government ministers and aides quit and lawmakers said he must go, an isolated and powerless Mr Johnson said it was clear his party wanted someone else in charge, but that his forced departure was “eccentric” and the result of “herd instinct” in parliament.

“Today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place,” Mr Johnson said outside his Downing Street office where his speech was watched by close allies and his wife Carrie.

“I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them’s the breaks,” he added, making no apology for the events that forced his announcement.

His term in office was ended by scandals that included breaches of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules, a luxury renovation of his official residence and the appointment of a minister who had been accused of sexual misconduct.

There were cheers and applause as he began his speech, while boos rang out from some outside the gates of Downing Street.

After days of battling for his job, Mr Johnson had been deserted by all but a handful of his closest allies after the latest in a series of scandals sapped their willingness to support him.

“It was a short and bizarre resignation speech which didn’t mention the word resign or resignation once. There was no apology, no contrition,” Conservative lawmaker Andrew Bridgen said. “There was no apology for the crisis his actions have put our government, our democracy, through.”

The Conservatives will now have to elect a new leader, a process which could take weeks or months, with details to be announced next week.

A snap YouGov poll found that defence minister Ben Wallace was the favourite among Conservative Party members to replace Mr Johnson, followed by junior trade minister Penny Mordaunt and former finance minister Rishi Sunak. 

(Reuters/NAN)