Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party after a series of unprecedented ministerial resignations. In a statement given from Downing Street on 7 July, Johnson confirmed that the process to appoint a new leader would now begin, with a timetable laid out next week.
Johnson’s resignation comes after one of the most tumultuous weeks British politics has seen in recent years, which was triggered after it emerged that the Prime Minister promoted Chris Pincher, a Conservative MP and the deputy chief whip, despite knowledge of misconduct claims against him.
The fallout saw more than 50 people resign from government, including the newly appointed Education Secretary, Michelle Donelan, who quit after just 36 hours in the role.
From breaching the COVID-19 lockdown laws his own government put in place to unlawfully closing parliament, Johnson’s time in power has been marred with scandals and controversy.