Britain's embattled Boris Johnson to resign as Conservative leader, try to stay on as prime minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to resign and will formalize his decision in a public announcement on Thursday, The Associated Press reports, citing an official in his Downing Street office. The BBC's Chris Mason reports that Johnson will resign as Conservative Party leader but "continue as prime minister until the autumn," acting as caretaker head of government until the Conservatives pick a new party leader before their annual conference in October. It's not clear he will be allowed to stay on that long.
Johnson has been facing increasingly fierce pressure to step down for days, and his ouster was expected after two of his top Cabinet ministers, Treasury chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, resigned in tandem on Tuesday, starting a wave of resignations that continued Thursday morning. New Treasury chief Nadhim Zahawi publicly called on Johnson to step down minutes before news broke of his resignation and "just 36 hours after Johnson put him in the job, while another newly appointed Cabinet minister quit her post," AP notes.
Johnson, 58, had dug in his heels on Wednesday, refusing to quit even after a group of his most trusted Cabinet ministers visited him at his office and told him to resign because he had lost the trust of his party. Instead, Johnson fired one of the ministers, Michael Gove, setting off more resignations.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Britain's Conservatives began to get restive about Johnson's leadership after snowballing revelations of parties at his office and residence that violated his own government's COVID-19 lockdown rules, leading to a no confidence vote he narrowly survived. This week, Johnson acknowledged he had elevated a Tory lawmaker to a senior position even though he knew about previous sexual misconduct allegations.
Given the chaos and vacancies in Johnson's government, "is it sustainable for him to carry on until the autumn?" the BBC's Mason asks. "That argument will rage today. And another will begin: who should be our next prime minister?"
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 precariously peaceful cartoons about the Gaza ceasefire
Cartoons Political cartoonists on the chance for peace in the Middle East
-
Is New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s plan for free buses realistic?
Talking Points A transit innovation or a costly mistake
-
5 side hustle ideas to supplement your budget
the explainer Almost two-thirds of Americans are looking to get a second job in the next year
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections