The prime minister announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down after dramatically losing support from ministers and Conservative MPs, but said he would stay on until his successor is chosen. Bowing to the inevitable as more than 50 ministers and aides resign and MPs told him to go, Mr Johnson said it was clear his party wanted someone else to lead, but that his forced departure was “eccentric” and the result of “herd instinct” in parliament.
“Today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until there is a new leader,” he said outside his office in Downing Street, where his speech was watched by close allies and his wife Carrie.
“I know there will be a lot of people who will be relieved and maybe a lot of people who will be disappointed too. And I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world. But those are the breaks.” he added, without apologizing for the events that forced his announcement.
The move sparked EU-wide gloating with Europhiles in hopes that Mr Johnson’s departure will bring the UK closer to the bloc.
An EU diplomat told Politico: “I think everyone … has had the same kind of strange gloating. It’s been very entertaining.
“We’re glad he’s gone.”
Belgian MEP and stalwart Remainer Guy Verhofstadt also said: “Boris Johnson’s reign ends in disgrace, as does his friend Donald Trump. The end of an era of transatlantic populism? Let’s hope so.
“EU-UK relations have suffered greatly from Johnson’s choice of” Brexit† Things can only get better!”
And former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier reiterated: “The departure of Boris Johnson opens a new page in relations with the UK.
“May it be more constructive, more respectful of the commitments made, especially with regard to peace and stability in NI, and more friendly with partners in the EU.
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“Because there is so much more to do together.”
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday that Bors Johnson’s resignation shows that populism and Brexit were not a good mix.
He said: “At least it proves that Brexit mixed with populism is not a good cocktail.”
Asked about his reaction to Mr Johnson’s decision, Mr Le Maire told France Info Radio: “It proves in any case that Brexit mixed with populism is not a good cocktail for a nation.”
“Personally, I will not miss him,” he added.
“What Boris Johnson will leave behind him, I don’t think it will be particularly brilliant,” Le Maire also said.
Potential contenders to claim the Tory crown assess whether they have the support to prepare leadership bids
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With no clear frontrunner, about a dozen potential candidates — including backbenchers and ministers — are believed to pose a challenge.
Meanwhile, high conservative pressure is mounting on Johnson to step down as prime minister immediately and not wait for a new leader to be elected.
On Friday, the newly installed Education Secretary, James Cleverly, insisted that the process for electing a new leader will be carried out “professionally but promptly”.
Following the tumultuous events at Westminster, some MPs fear a summer of “chaos” if Mr Johnson remains at No. 10 as the leadership contest – which could last for weeks or even months – unfolds.