THE PRIME Minister has decided to resign, according to reports, after his new chancellor, Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi, told him to quit.
Boris Johnson is to resign as Conserative leader today (Thursday) but will continue as prime minister until the autumn.
The decision means there will be a Conservative leadership race over the summer with the aim of having a new prime minister in place in time for the party’s conference in October.
The prime minister was under huge pressure to quit following a record number of resignations by cabinet members and ministers.
And this morning (Thursday) Nadhim Zahawi’s message to Boris Johnson was – resign.
After being loyal to the prime minister and being made chancellor on Tuesday (July 5), the Stratford MP joined a wave of Conservative MPs calling for their leader to go.
Mr Zahawi tweeted a copy of his letter about the current chaos, adding: “Prime minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all, the country. You must do the right thing and go now”.
On Treasury notepaper, Mr Zahawi wrote: “Yesterday, I made it clear to the prime minister alongside my colleagues in No 10 that there was only one direction where this was going, and that he should leave with dignity. Out of respect, and in the hopes that he would listen to an old friend of 30 years, I kept this counsel private.
“I am heartbroken that he hasn’t listened and that he is now undermining the incredible achievements of this government at this late hour”.
The letter adds: “Prime minister, you know in your heart what the right thing to do is, and go now”.
Mr Johnson’s resignation follows the departure of health secretary Sajid Javid and chancellor Rishi Sunak amid the groping scandal involving Chris Pincher, accused of groping two men at the Carlton Club – a private members’ club popular with Tory politicians. In total, 55 MPs submitted letters of resignation.
During PMQs Mr Johnson repeatedly said he would be “getting on with the job” despite members of his own party taking the opportunity to call on him to go.
