British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns, says future for England is 'golden'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned Thursday morning as British prime minister after a Conservative Party uprising. His imminent resignation is a stunning shift in the landscape of British politics and a for a politician who was once a rising star in London politics.

Johnson spoke to a crowd outside of 10 Downing Street at 12:30 p.m. London time. He announced there would be a new leader selected and thanked his supporters. He said the reason he fought so hard to deliver his mandate was because he felt it was “his job, his duty and obligation and continue to do what was promised in 2019.”

He added that he was “immensely proud” of what his government achieved.

“I want you to know how sad I am to leave the greatest job in the world, but them’s the brakes,” he affectionately told the British people. “Most of all I want to thank you for the immense privilege you have given me… your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on. Being prime minister is an education in itself… Even if things seem dark now our future together is golden.”

He also added that it was important to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s oppression and sent a message of encouragement to the people of Ukraine.

Johnson’s decision comes after an shocking 36 hours in U.K. politics in which more than 50 ministers and senior government aides resigned. Mr. Johnson will remain in power until a successor has been chosen, British officials said.

That process that could take several months.

The British prime minister’s move comes months after a number of scandals and mass resignations, including five cabinet members and a number of more junior members of government who quit last week after they said they no longer had confidence in Johnson. 

“Mr. Johnson attempted to cling to power amid frenetic plotting by rebels to unseat him and a push by a group of cabinet members to have him resign. Until recently he had spoken of his intention to stay in office until the 2030s. But as his authority withered, and with the growing threat that the Conservative Party would change its internal rules to hold a vote to oust him, he agreed to step aside,” the Wall Street Journal reported.”

Under Johnson’s leadership, the British pound rose and the United Kingdom, carried the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, helped complete Britain’s exit from the European Union, and led a charge for the West to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s illegal invasion.