UK politics latest updates: Boris Johnson says no new policies
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will step down.
- The embattled leader had faced a growing rebellion within his party over a series of scandals.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will step down.
- The embattled leader had faced a growing rebellion within his party over a series of scandals.
- Johnson said the timetable for his departure will be announced next week, saying he has appointed new Cabinet while he remains as UK prime minister until a successor is chosen.
- The prime minister said he regrets not being able to convince his party to support him, said “herd instinct” powerful.
- He defiantly told legislators he had a “colossal mandate” from voters and intended to get on with the business of government.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on July 7:
Moscow rejoices over Johnson’s ‘inglorious’ downfall
Russian political figures have lined up to celebrate the downfall of Johnson, casting the British leader as a “stupid clown” who had got his just reward for arming Ukraine against Russia.
“He doesn’t like us, we don’t like him either,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said shortly before Johnson announced his resignation.
Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska said on Telegram that it was an “inglorious end” for a “stupid clown” whose conscience would be blighted by “tens of thousands of lives in this senseless conflict in Ukraine”.
Johnson: no major policy changes until new leader chosen
Johnson has said the government would not seek to implement new policies or make major changes of direction while his Conservative Party elects a new leader, according to his office.
Johnson told a meeting of his cabinet ministers the government would only focus on delivering the agenda on which it was elected.
“He said major fiscal decisions should be left for the next prime minister,” his office said following a cabinet meeting.
Zelenskyy expresses ‘sadness’ at UK PM’s departure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Boris Johnson by telephone to express his “sadness” over the British leader’s resignation as Conservative leader and impending departure as prime minister, according to Kyiv.
“We all welcome this news with sadness. Not only me, but also all of Ukrainian society which sympathises with you a lot,” the presidency quoted Zelenskyy as saying, reiterating how grateful Ukrainians were for the British prime minister’s support since the Russian invasion.
EU: Johnson exit won’t change stance on Northern Ireland impasse
The European Commission has declined to comment on Johnson’s resignation as prime minister, but said its stand in a post-Brexit impasse over Northern Ireland would not be affected by political developments in London.
“On the events in the UK … we have no comment on democratic processes in third countries,” a spokesperson for the European Union’s executive told a news briefing.
A second spokesperson said there would be no shift in the EU’s approach to the Northern Ireland protocol that was part of the UK’s divorce agreement with the EU.
“From our point of view, the political developments do not change our position on the protocol or the way in which we work with our British counterparts on Northern Ireland,” he said. “Our position is that we should endeavour to seek solutions as regards to the implementation of the protocol.”
Johnson’s government has proposed legislation allowing the UK to scrap some of the rules on post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland, which last week cleared a first parliamentary hurdle.
The EU says the bill is a violation of international law.
Ex-PM Major: Johnson should not remain as caretaker
Former British Prime Minister John Major says outgoing leader Boris Johnson should not remain in Downing Street until a successor is found “for the overall wellbeing of the country”.
Major, prime minister from 1990 to 1997 and from Johnson’s Conservative Party, said Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab could take over until a new leader is found, or the party could change the selection rules to speed up the process.
“The proposal for the prime minister to remain in office – for up to three months – having lost the support of his cabinet, his government and his parliamentary party is unwise, and may be unsustainable,” he said in a public letter.
Irish PM sees opportunity to reset partnership with UK
Ireland and the UK now have an opportunity to repair relations that have been strained in recent times by Brexit, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said after Johnson’s resignation.
“While Prime Minister Johnson and I engaged actively together, we didn’t always agree, and the relationship between our governments has been strained and challenged in recent times,” Martin said in a statement.
“We now have an opportunity to return to the true spirit of partnership and mutual respect that is needed to underpin the gains of the Good Friday Agreement,” he added, referring to a 1998 Northern Ireland peace deal.
Johnson’s rise and fall
Johnson has spent months battling to maintain his grip on power amid a series of controversies.
The Eton and Oxford-educated former mayor of London who also served as foreign secretary has proven a divisive figure during his time in office, which began with overseeing the UK’s controversial departure from the EU, for which Johnson had been a vocal proponent.
Some will remember him as an outspoken and controversial leader, while others view him as a jolly and affable prime minister with a can-do attitude.
Read more about Johnson’s rise and fall here.
Ukrainian official thanks Johnson for support
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has thanked Johnson for his support of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.
“To be a leader – to call Russia evil a evil and to take responsibility in the hardest times. To be a leader – to be the first to arrive in Kyiv, despite missile attacks. Thanks Boris Johnson for realizing the threat of RF [Russia federation] monster and always being at the forefront of supporting Ukraine,” Podolyak tweeted.
Johnson set to face backlash
Johnson is set to face backlash from his party if he attempts to stay on until autumn, Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reports from London.
Johnson said a timetable for his departure would be announced next week, and he has appointed a cabinet to serve “until a new leader is in place”.
“We know from this morning that Boris Johnson is rather keen to stay on in place until the autumn, that a new leader for the Conservative Party should be in place in time for the annual Conservative Party conference in October,” Brennan said.
“There are lots of people who believe that it’s frankly not a tenable position. We’ve got many many junior ministers and even cabinet ministers who have resigned unwilling to serve under Boris Johnson. We’ve got many members of the backbench Conservative Party who believe that he is, frankly, dangerous.”
Truss says Johnson made right decision
Liz Truss, the British foreign secretary, has said Johnson was right to resign as prime minister.
“The PM has made the right decision,” she said.
“We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found.”
Johnson says ‘painful’ not to see term through
Johnson says it was “painful” for him not to see his term through, adding he regrets not being successful in convincing his party to continue to support him.
He said the party’s “herd instinct” was powerful.
Johnson did not apologise for his conduct in office. He said he has appointed a new cabinet while he remains as prime minister until a successor is chosen, adding a timetable for his departure would be announced next week.
“I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world,” he said.
Johnson resigns as UK prime minister
Johnson has announced his resignation after a party rebellion that saw several high-level officials resign.
Boris Johnson says he has appointed a new cabinet while he remains as UK prime minister until a successor is chosen.
Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as UK's PM, saying he wants to stay on until a successor is chosen 👇 pic.twitter.com/3uWZ0J2w54
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 7, 2022
“The process of choosing that new leader should begin now,” Johnson said at the door of 10 Downing Street.
“And today, I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place.”
Starmer: If Johnson won’t go, we’ll call a vote of confidence
The opposition will call a parliamentary no-confidence vote on Johnson’s government if his Conservative Party decides not to get rid of him as its leader, Labour Party chief Starmer has said.
“His own party have finally concluded that he’s unfit to be prime minister,” Starmer said. “If they don’t get rid of him, then Labour will step up in the national interest and bring a vote of no confidence because we can’t go on with this prime minister clinging on for months and months to come.”
Who will replace Johnson?
Johnson’s reported impending resignation has already triggered speculation about the Conservative Party’s next leader and likely de facto prime minister.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and defence minister Ben Wallace are considered the contenders, in addition to former finance minister Rishi Sunak and former health minister Sajid Javid, who had resigned in protest over Johnson’s conduct.
Read more about possible successors here.
Johnson’s scandals since taking office
The scandal involving Pincher is only the latest Johnson has faced since taking office.
They include “Partygate”, which refers to a scandal over parties held in government offices, including in Johnson’s Downing Street office, during strict COVID-19 lockdown rules. Johnson was fined for attending a birthday party and apologised to the queen, who sat alone during her husband, Prince Philip’s funeral, per the restrictions at the time.
Johnson also faced an inquiry following the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, which was led by a celebrity designer. UK’s electoral commission later fined the Conservatives 17,800 pounds ($21,300) for failing to accurately report a donation to pay for it.
Johnson’s ethics adviser criticised him for failing to disclose some messages exchanged with the donor, but concluded that Johnson had not intentionally lied.
‘Incredible to suggest’ Johnson could stay on for months: Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has said Johnson should not be allowed to keep the post of prime minister temporarily if he announces his resignation.
“It is quite incredible to suggest that he will remain as prime minister for another three to four months,” Sturgeon said in a televised statement, adding that holding a general election would be “in the interests of the UK as a whole right now”.
Johnson expected to ask to stay on as PM until autumn
Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan, reporting from Downing Street, said Johnson is expected to ask to stay on as prime minister until autumn.
“The chronology seems to be that he will recommend resigning as Conservative leader but continue as prime minister until the autumn to allow a leadership campaign contest to be staged through the summer months, with the view that a new Conservative leader could be in place in time for the Conservative Party conference in October,” Brennan said.
“But there is a snowball of sentiment that that frankly, is outlandish and should not be allowed to happen,” he said, adding that sentiment is also coming from prominent members of Johnson’s party.
How does the process to pick new prime minister work?
- Candidates putting themselves forward for the leadership must be nominated by two other Conservative members of Parliament.
- Conservatives then hold several rounds of votes to whittle down the field. Each time they are asked to vote for their chosen candidate in a secret ballot. The person with the fewest votes is eliminated.
- This process is repeated until two candidates remain. Votes previously have been held every Tuesday and Thursday but Parliament is due to break for its six-week summer recess on July 21. This means the process may have to be accelerated.
- The final two candidates are then put to a mail ballot of the wider Conservative Party membership, with the winner named the new leader.
- The leader of the party with a majority in the House of Commons is the de facto prime minister. While he or she does not have to call a snap election, they have the power to do so.
Minister says UK continues to have functioning government
The UK continues to have a functioning government, Paymaster General Michael Ellis has said in a statement to Parliament
“We must continue to serve our country,” said Ellis, a minister in the Cabinet Office department which oversees the running of the government. “It is our duty now to make sure the people of this country have a functioning government. This is true now more than ever.”
Ellis added he would not preempt the content of Johnson’s statement.
Russia hopes ‘more professional people’ will lead UK
The Kremlin says it hopes that “more professional people” would come to power in the UK after Johnson.
“We would like to hope that someday in Great Britain more professional people who can make decisions through dialogue will come to power,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “But at the moment there is little hope for that.”
He added: “He [Johnson] doesn’t like us, we don’t like him either.”
What is the scandal involving Christopher Pincher?
While Johnson has weathered many political crises during his tenure, the scandal involving legislator Christopher Pincher may prove the most consequential.
His office is accused of withholding information about Pincher, whom Johnson appointed as deputy chief whip in February. The role gave Pincher responsibility for the wellbeing of other Conservative legislators.
Last week, Pincher was suspended from the party after acknowledging he had made other people uncomfortable during a drunken night out. It subsequently emerged that Pincher had been the subject of past sexual harassment allegations.
Johnson’s office initially said the prime minister had been unaware of specific past allegations against Pincher. However, on Monday, former senior civil servant Simon McDonald wrote a letter saying he had investigated the allegations in 2019 and had upheld the complaints.
UK business minister: We need a new leader as soon ‘as practicable’
British business minister Kwasi Kwarteng called on the Conservative Party to pick a new leader as soon as possible.
“We now need a new Leader as soon as practicable. Someone who can rebuild trust, heal the country, and set out a new, sensible and consistent economic approach to help families,” he said on Twitter.
“The wheels of government must continue in the meantime.”
Conservative deputy chair: Johnson’s resignation ‘was inevitable’
Justin Tomlinson, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, has said Johnson was a “star player” for the party, but his “resignation was inevitable”.
“I was Team Boris, as the GE [general election] showed he was our star player who connected across traditional political divides,” he said. “Yes there were ups and downs, but he turbo-charged social mobility and opportunity.”
“His resignation was inevitable. As a Party we must quickly unite and focus on what matters. These are serious times on many fronts.”
I was Team Boris, as the GE showed he was our star player who connected across traditional political divides. Yes there were ups and downs, but he turbo-charged social mobility and opportunity.
— Justin Tomlinson MP (@JustinTomlinson) July 7, 2022
Johnson spoke to queen as a courtesy: Reporter
Johnson has spoken to Queen Elizabeth as a courtesy before an impending announcement about his resignation plan, ITV deputy political editor Anushka Asthana tweeted.
Breaking – the pm has just spoken to the queen. Told its a courtesy as staying as pm
— Anushka Asthana (@AnushkaAsthana) July 7, 2022
Opposition Labour head: Johnson leaving ‘good news’
Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, has called Johnson’s reported plan to resign “good news for the country”.
“But it should have happened long ago. He was always unfit for office,” he said. “He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale.”
He added all those who are “complicit should be utterly ashamed”.