Boris Johnson has stepped down as Conservative leader following a slew of resignations from ministers. In a statement outside Downing Street, he said it was the “will of the parliamentary Conservative party” that he should leave the job. Guardian readers have shared their views on his resignation. ‘It would seem he is resigning as leader of the Tory party, but not as PM’ Boris Johnson has resigned, but from which role? It would seem he is resigning as leader of the Tory party, but not as PM. This job, which he has at last been declared unfit to hold, he will be keeping for another three months. Which other institution or industry would allow this? He will continue to wield power and enjoy all the privileges of office until October. Unbelievable. The Conservative party picked a charlatan as its leader/future PM, who went on to remove all those who had either scruples or experience in government, or both. We now have an ERG (European Research Group) cabinet of second-raters, some also with a chequered history, politically. Unless the party can unite all sides, to represent all sides of an electorate who vote Conservative, the party will continue to make poor choices while in government. Lynne, retired schoolteacher, Lincolnshire (Labour voter) ‘I shudder to think who will replace him’ Boris may have been forced into resigning, but he will always be remembered for getting us out of the crippling clutches of the EU, and getting us through the pandemic. He has been a great and strong prime minister, and shame on all those who have brought him down. I shudder to think who will replace him. Gillian, retired businesswoman, Isle of Wight (Conservative voter)
‘What a waste of a massive majority’ What a waste of a massive majority. It’s sheer stupidity that has resulted in Johnson’s downfall and the hypocrisy of Partygate meant that, for me, he should have gone earlier. But I do believe Johnson was possibly the only one who could “get Brexit done” and Russia’s pleasure at his departure reflects how his response to the horror in Ukraine has been spot on. David, 42, solicitor, Surbiton (Conservative voter) ‘He needs to go now’ He has not resigned as PM. He has resigned as Conservative party leader, among everyone else. He needs to go now. He should not have appointed a cabinet and he should not have the power to do anything now. It is disappointing that our constitution cannot get rid of a prime minister who is damaging our country. I am deeply troubled by what is going on in this country. Sarah, 55, retired, South West England (Lib Dem voter) ‘A clean slate with a new leader is required’ Glad he is going, but in the interests of the country he must not linger as he is a loose cannon and we cannot afford any more mishaps from a man who never had a moral compass and sought only power for himself and influence for his friends. He has reached the apogee of his ambition but left the nation on its knees. We are all better off for seeing the back of him. A clean slate with a new leader is required, a one-nation Tory, perhaps Jeremy Hunt, but those on the current frontbench are, as Keir Starmer has said, lightweights and too closely associated with Johnson. Bill Jackson, 70, semi-retired solicitor, Nottingham (Green voter) ‘His ‘resignation’ speech was not a resignation’ I would say I’m overjoyed, but I cannot fully feel this way until he actually leaves. He is planning to cling on for as long as he physically can, in a way that is shameful, embarrassing and deeply undignified. I would say I am hopeful, but I cannot fully feel this way knowing that another equally disgraceful Conservative may well replace him. He is, in my belief, the worst prime minister in history. His “resignation” speech was not a resignation. He did not even use the word “resign”. He did not take responsibility for enabling sexual predators, for causing thousands of preventable deaths from Covid, [for] the cost of living crisis. Conservative rule can only bring about suffering for the working class. What we need is a general election. I am not a Conservative voter, nor will I ever be. My hopes for the future of the party is that the public does not forget what the Tories have done to us. Emily, 17, student, Paisley, Scotland ‘I anticipate a return to some sort of status quo’ There’s more than a smidgen of “I told you so” about the events of the past few days, weeks or even months, but the smug satisfaction that goes along with it is notably absent. As the potential candidates for his replacement start to come out of the woodwork, I anticipate a return to some sort of status quo; a status quo still underpinned by the hostile environment, welfare cuts, tax cuts, falling wages and falling living standards. Only this continuation of the same ideological bent will be covered by a sheen of “competence” that will deflect scrutiny and leave the Labour party needing to focus more intensely on their own policy agenda. A blessing in disguise, maybe? Or something that will leave Keir Starmer wanting? Matthew, 39, welfare rights officer, Manchester (Labour voter)