Summary

  • Boris Johnson has quit as Conservative leader, saying it is "clearly now the will" of Tory MPs that there should be a new leader

  • He pledges to stay on as PM until a successor is chosen - but a growing number of Tory MPs say he has to leave No 10 now

  • Johnson assured cabinet this afternoon he would only act as a caretaker PM while remaining in position, new Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland says

  • But ex-PM Sir John Major says Johnson should go now for the good of the country

  • Labour also says Johnson must leave office, saying they could try to bring a no confidence vote in Parliament

  • Downing Street announces 12 new ministers, filling some of the posts left vacant by the recent wave of resignations

  • Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - a possible leadership contender who has remained silent for days - says her party needs to keep governing until a new leader is found

Live Reporting

Edited by Nathan Williams

  1. Johnson's statement: Key points

    Johnson has just finished his resignation statement. Here's a summary of the key points:

    • Johnson said it was "clearly now the will of the parliamentary party" for there to be a new PM
    • The timetable for choosing a new PM will be announced next week
    • He said he waited so long to make the decision as he had been keen to deliver on the voters' mandate in person, saying he felt it was his duty and obligation to do what he had promised
    • He said he was immensely proud of his achievements, including getting Brexit done, getting the UK through the pandemic and leading the West in standing up to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine
    • He said the UK must "keep levelling up", adding doing so would make the country the most prosperous in Europe
    • Johnson said he tried to persuade colleagues it would be "eccentric" to change government when we have such a mandate, but regrets he was not successful in those arguments
    • He said "at Westminster the herd instinct is powerful, when the herd moves, it moves"
    • He said he wanted to let the public know "how sad I was to give up the best job in the world" but "them's the breaks"
    • He thanked his wife Carrie, his children, the NHS , armed forces and Downing Street staff

  2. Crowds outside Downing Street for statement

    As Boris Johnson made his statement, people gathered outside Downing Street to hear the historic announcement.

    Crowds gathering outside Downing St

  3. Johnson has made the right decision, says Truss

    Liz TrussEPA

    Moments after Boris Johnson finished his speech, we've finally heard from Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

    "The PM has made the right decision," she tweets.

    The government under Boris's leadership had many achievements - delivering Brexit, vaccines and backing Ukraine. We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found.

    Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary

  4. Analysis

    Johnson's decision by no means popular with all Tories

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    A not entirely magnanimous departure - Boris Johnson said it was "eccentric" of colleagues to ditch him when he was only a few points behind in the polls.

    He said he regretted not to have been successful in those arguments.

    When he says that, you do wonder if he did seriously consider going for an early election.

    As expected he also reminded us of his greatest hits - from Brexit to vaccines.

    And he confirms he will stay on until there is a new party leader, a not universally popular decision with some Conservative colleagues.

  5. Johnson: I'm sad to give up the best job in the world, but them's the breaks

    Boris JohnsonReuters

    I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, the prime minister says.

    "But them's the breaks," he says.

  6. Our future together is golden - Johnson

    The prime minister finishes his statement by saying that until his replacement is found, the public's interests will be served.

    "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," Johnson says.

    He receives some applause as he leaves.

  7. PM thanks public for 'immense privilege'

    PM Boris Johnson speaks outside No 10Reuters

    "Above all, I want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege you have given me," he says.

    He says the public will be served from now until the new prime minister is in place.

  8. Painful to not see through projects - Johnson

    Johnson says he tried to persuade his colleagues that "it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate".

    He says his party is "only a handful of points behind in the polls, even in midterm after quite a few months of pretty relentless sledging and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally".

    "I regret to not be successful in arguments and it's painful not to see through so many ideas and projects."

    Johnson says his arguments to stay in power were rejected due to a "herd instinct" at Westminster.

  9. No one in politics is indispensable, Johnson says

    Johnson continues that in politics, no one is "remotely indispensable".

    He says "our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader".

    Johnson will give the new leader as much support as he can, he says.

  10. We must keep levelling up - Johnson

    We must keep levelling up, keep unleashing the potential of every part of the United Kingdom, Johnson continues.

    If we can do that we will be the most prosperous in Europe, he says.

  11. Johnson: I will serve until a new leader is in place
    Breaking

    "I've agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of chosing that new leader should begin now and 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."

  12. Timetable for new leader will begin next week - Johnson

    Johnson says the process of choosing the new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week.

  13. Will of the party to choose a new leader and PM - Johnson
    Breaking

    It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of the party and therefore a new prime minister, Boris Johnson says.

  14. Johnson begins statement
    Breaking

    PM Boris Johnson speaks outside No 10Reuters

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson is approaching the lectern outside No 10 to begin his statement, where he is expected to confirm he is resigning as Conservative Party leader.

    Stick with us as we bring you all the key details.

    You can watch what he has to say by pressing play at the top of the page.

  15. Lectern in place for PM's statement

    Downing Street staff bring out the podium where Boris Johnson will make his resignation speech

    In the last few minutes, a lectern has been set up outside No 10.

    In a few moments we'll hear Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliver his statement, where he is expected to resign as Conservative Party leader.

  16. UK awaits Johnson resignation statement

    It's minutes now until we expect the prime minister to appear before a podium outside 10 Downing Street.

    Boris Johnson is expected to announce his resignation as Conservative Party leader. As we've been reporting, he wants to stay on as prime minister until autumn so the Tories can elect a new leader to replace him.

    This is causing significant disquiet in the party, with some Tory MPs insisting he has to go now. Labour has also said he needs to resign immediately.

    Stay with us for what he has to say.

    People gathered outside the gates of Downing StreetGetty Images

  17. Andrew Stephenson appointed Minister without Portfolio

    Andrew Stephenson has been appointed Minister without Portfolio, and will attend Cabinet, No 10 says.

    Andrew StephensonGetty Images

  18. New Northern Ireland secretary appointed
    Breaking

    Another cabinet minister has been appointed.

    Shailesh Vara has been made Northern Ireland Secretary, Downing Street has confirmed.

    He replaces Brandon Lewis, who resigned from the post today.

    Shailesh VaraGetty Images

  19. Boris Johnson set to make statement at 12:30
    Breaking

    Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement outside Downing Street at 12:30 BST confirming his resignation as Conservative leader.

  20. Conservative MPs push for quick leadership election

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    The powerful backbench 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs decides the Tory leadership timetable and will meet later.

    Some MPs are pushing for the process to be shortened, with members being given perhaps a month, rather than all summer, to decide the new leader in order to get Boris Johnson out of No 10 quicker.

    One source says: "It won't matter if he says he will stay on until Autumn."