Kingston and Surbiton MP Ed Davey has said the nation 'can breathe a sigh of relief' after Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Tory leader following more than 50 from his government and party.

It was announced this morning (July 7), that Prime Minster Boris Johnson would resign and a leadership contest will be held to decide his replacement.

At 12:30pm, Mr Johnson made a statement outside parliament confirming his resignation, saying: "I tried to stay in Downing Street, because it is my job, my duty and my obligation to do what we promised to do in 2019."

"From now on, until the prime Minster is in place, your interests will be served and the government will carry on."

What happens now?

An election for a new party leader has immediately been triggered following Mr Johnson's resignation.

Under the current rules, candidates need the support of eight Conservative MPs to stand. Once all the candidates have been declared, if there are more than two candidates, Tory MPs will hold a series of votes until only two remain.

• in the first round, candidates must get 5% of the votes to stay in the running (currently 18 MPs)
• in the second round, they must get 10% (currently 36 MPs)
• in the following rounds, the candidate with the least amount of votes is eliminated

When two MPs are left, all Conservative party members around the country will vote for the winner.

The timetable for choosing a new PM will be announced next week.

advertisement

Reacting to Johnson's resignation, the Lib Dem leader and Kingston MP, Ed Davey, said: "It has always been clear that Boris Johnson is unfit to lead our country. The public won't forgive the Conservatives for propping him up for so long.

"Conservative MPs have spent months defending Boris Johnson instead of focusing on the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in our NHS.

"Across the country, lifelong Conservative voters are fed up with being taken for granted. Johnson or no Johnson, trust in the Conservative party has gone and it will not be coming back."

Check out Nub News in the thick of the action at Westminster today HERE.