Iran Press/ Europe: Britain is now searching for a new prime minister on Thursday after Boris Johnson resigned as leader of the ruling Conservative Party and PM.
Johnson announced Thursday that he would step down, but remain at Number 10 Downing Street until a new leader of the Conservative Party is chosen, a process that could take months and still be cut short by a parliament-wide confidence vote triggering an early election.
He made a statement outside 10 Downing Street after support from his ministerial team and MPs collapsed, saying it was "clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader" as he announced his resignation.
Johnson's resignation comes following a slew of cabinet ministers quitting their posts, beginning with Sajid Javid's resignation as health secretary on Tuesday night. The total number of concessions currently sits at 59.
Until now, Johnson had defied pressure to quit from senior ministers and a mounting rebellion within his ruling Conservative Party, saying he would fight off any attempts to oust him over a series of scandals.
More than 50 resignations have taken place from within Johnson's government.
Britain's new finance minister Nadhim Zahawi, among many other former ministers and the Conservative party brass, has told Johnson to resign "with dignity." Zahawi was part of the cabinet team that went to the prime minister's office in Downing Street.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace called on Johnson to quit but said he would stay in his role to protect national security.
In an address given outside Downing Street this afternoon, Johnson said he had told cabinet colleagues it was "eccentric to change governments when we are delivering so much" but was "not successful in those arguments."
He said: "We must keep levelling up, keep unleashing the potential of every part of the United Kingdom."
Just two and a half years ago, Boris Johnson won a massive mandate to govern from the British people. He received 14 million votes and won an 80+ seat majority.
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