Boris quits

It’s the end of the road for Boris Johnson, who resigned as Tory party leader on the steps of Downing Street this lunchtime, ushering in the end of a tumultuous and shambolic premiership.

The PM finally persuaded himself to quit this morning after a statement of no confidence from Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and the resignation of Michelle Donelan, education secretary for all of 36 hours. But the coup de grâce was delivered by Sir Graham Brady, head of backbench 1922 Committee, who gave Johnson the latest numbers of MPs who would vote against him in a fresh confidence vote.

There was no humility or contrition in Johnson’s resignation speech, in which he said he planned to stay on as Prime Minister until a successor is appointed.

He made some token gestures to things bigger than himself, like the country. But it was all about Boris.

As the tune to “Bye Bye Boris” floated on the wind towards No.10, the PM talked ruefully of the “brilliant Darwinian system” in the Tory party, one that brought him to power and cruelly, as he would see it, snatched it away from him. “The herd instinct is powerful,” he said. The narrative teed up for memoirs and columns is one of betrayal.

Johnson reminded everyone that he had won “the biggest Conservative majority since 1987” and made clear what he wanted to be remembered for – Brexit, Ukraine, levelling-up. But it wasn’t a list of achievements. They were the words of a man frustrated he hadn’t done more.

He generously promised to give his successor “as much support as I can.” You can read the full speech here.

Who will that successor be?

It’s looking like a free-for-all, with outsiders including Steve Baker, chair of the European Research Group, Suella Braverman, the over-promoted attorney-general and Jake Berry, who’s been dubbed the “voice of the Red Wall”, saying they will run.

Ex-Johnson loyalists will be tarnished by association to varying degrees depending on when they abandoned ship. Liz Truss, for instance, hasn’t said a bad word against Johnson yet, and like Ben Wallace, is still in her post. Fresh faces like Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch are dark horses that could come good. See the Hound for a run-down of big beasts, and their chances of landing the top job.  

As for when Johnson will go, the 1922 Committee will come up with a timetable for a leadership contest next week.

Johnson has stepped down as party leader but wants to remain as PM until the autumn, with his successor taking over in time for the Tory party conference at the end of September.

Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the Liaison Committee, believes the aim will be to complete the “parliamentary stage” of the process before the summer recess on 21 July. It would mean the field of candidates being whittled down by Tory MPs in a series of votes, before a final two are put before the party membership. Backroom deals between candidates could shorten the process.

Some ministers are saying privately that Johnson should go immediately and be replaced by a caretaker, like Dominic Raab, although it would require a collective cabinet decision, which seems unlikely. Keir Starmer has threatened a confidence vote in Parliament if Johnson sticks around.

Unless this happens, a zombie government will stagger on until the autumn, along with its leader, who is now a squatter in No.10.