Boris Johnson quits as British PM but won’t leave office until another leader found

Boris Johnson has resigned as Tory party leader a development that makes his position as the British prime minister untenable.

Johnson read out his resignation letter in an address outside No 10 Downing Street on Thursday morning.

“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.

“I’m sad to give up the best job in the world,” he said.

The prime minister quit as Tory leader but says he will continue to serve until the party chooses his successor.

A growing number of Tory MPs are, however, saying he has to quit now, BBC News is reporting.

Also, the Labour party says Johnson cannot stay on as PM, or they will try to bring a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

His decision followed the resignation of many members of his cabinet. He has been appointing a new cabinet — Greg Clark is the new Levelling Up Secretary while Kit Malthouse is Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster. James Cleverly becomes the third education minister in three days, while Robert Buckland becomes Welsh Secretary.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who has remained silent for days, is cutting short a foreign trip and returning to London.

“The government under Boris’s leadership had many achievements. We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found,” Truss tweeted after Johnson’s address.