Public figures react to Boris Johnson's resignation as UK Prime Minister

Conservative leader Boris Johnson is to resign as Prime Minister in the UK, following the resignations of Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and over 50 other MPs.

He is expected to give a statement outside No 10 Downing Street later today.

Johnson will also stand down as Conservative Party leader, with a Conservative leadership contest taking place during the summer. He will continue as Prime Minister until the party conference in October, the BBC reports.

The wave of resignations was triggered by information surfacing about Johnson appointing Chris Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip, despite despite being aware of a 2019 investigation into inappropriate behaviour made against the MP - who resigned last week.

Pincher was accused of groping two men in a private members club. Johnson has since said it “was a mistake” to appoint the 52-year-old Walsall native to the role and “in hindsight the wrong thing to do”.

He vowed to "keep going" yesterday despite senior members of his cabinet, including Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi urging him to resign and to "leave with dignity". According to Sky News, Johnson has now agreed to stand down after speaking to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer responded to the news on Twitter, writing that “it was good news for the country that Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister”.

He added: “The Conservatives have overseen 12 years of economic stagnation, declining public services and empty promises. We don’t need to change the Tory at the top – we need a proper change of government. We need a fresh start for Britain.”

The Conservatives have overseen 12 years of economic stagnation, declining public services and empty promises.

We don’t need to change the Tory at the top – we need a proper change of government.

We need a fresh start for Britain. pic.twitter.com/uMxRTomXX9

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 7, 2022

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that "there will be a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end", adding that Johnson staying on as PM until autumn "seems far from ideal, and surely not sustainable?".

1. There will be a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end, though notion of Boris Johnson staying on as PM until autumn seems far from ideal, and surely not sustainable? https://t.co/SQXuCC1HYH

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 7, 2022

Read the reaction of Labour MPs, political correspondents and other public figures below.

"After speaking truth to power I was thrown out of the House of Commons and suspended for calling Boris Johnson a liar. 350 days later he has resigned for being a liar," Dawn Butler MP stated.

After speaking truth to power I was thrown out of the House of Commons and suspended for calling Boris Johnson a liar.

350 days later he has resigned for being a liar.

I want to thank those who stood by me and supported me when I was disciplined. #itshappening #ByeBoris https://t.co/cVrWRvgEn2

— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) July 7, 2022

"Today I’m thinking about the time Boris Johnson mocked Muslim women as “bank robbers” and “letterboxes” — sparking a 375% rise in Islamophobic incidents — and much of the political class shrugged their shoulders & let him off," Zarah Sultana MP tweeted.

Today I’m thinking about the time Boris Johnson mocked Muslim women as “bank robbers” & “letterboxes” — sparking a 375% rise in Islamophobic incidents — & much of the political class shrugged their shoulders & let him off.

Good riddance to Boris. Shame on those who enabled him.

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) July 7, 2022

"This has been one of the most shameful sagas in the history of British politics," London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted. "Boris Johnson has presided over a government defined by lies, sleaze, an utter lack of integrity, unlawful behaviour, incompetence, and a damaging culture of impunity in public office."

This has been one of the most shameful sagas in the history of British politics.

Boris Johnson has presided over a government defined by lies, sleaze, an utter lack of integrity, unlawful behaviour, incompetence, and a damaging culture of impunity in public office. 🧵

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 7, 2022

We're now going to spend the next weeks listening to Tory MPs, commentators and newspapers who made Boris Johnson prime minister and kept him in power try to disown him.

This was not all down to one man. This whole hideous episode is on the British Establishment. https://t.co/sCY2lrkLL1

— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) July 7, 2022

12 years of cruel Tory rule inflicting pain for the many to feather the beds of the few.
Johnson should resign now but real change can only come when the Tories are swept away and replaced with a peoples Government to redistribute wealth and power.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 5, 2022