The PM is quitting as Tory leader after ministers and MPs made clear his position was untenable, with support crumbing around him in recent days.
07 July 2022
Boris Johnson began a reshuffle of his Cabinet shortly before he was set to announce his resignation and as calls grew for him to bow out now rather than remain in a caretaker role.
The PM will quit as Tory leader after ministers and MPs made clear his position was untenable, with support crumbing around him in recent days.
Downing Street appointed Greg Clark as the new Levelling Up Secretary, replacing Michael Gove who was sacked by Mr Johnson on Wednesday, while James Cleverly has been made Education Secretary.
Robert Buckland has been appointed Secretary of State for Wales, following the resignation of Simon Hart.
Kit Malthouse will be the new Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office after the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson will remain as Prime Minister until a successor is in place, expected to be by the time of the Conservative Party conference in October.
But critics of the PM have suggested he should not be allowed to stay in office until the autumn.
Lord Barwell, who served as Theresa May’s chief of staff, said the leadership election must be “relatively quick” and there was a “question whether the PM will be able to lead a caretaker government in the meantime, will enough ministers agree to serve?”
Evict TODAY or he’ll cause CARNAGE, even now he’s playing for time & will try to stay
No ‘dignity’, no ‘interim while leadership contest’.
Raab shd be interim PM by evening
— Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) July 7, 2022
Dominic Cummings, formerly Mr Johnson’s right-hand man in No 10 but now one of his most fierce critics, said the Prime Minister would cause “carnage” if he was allowed to remain in position and suggested Dominic Raab should stand in as a caretaker premier.
He suggested the Cabinet should give Mr Johnson an ultimatum and tell him that if he does not go the Queen will appoint Deputy Prime Minister Mr Raab and “cops escort you from building”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson must not be allowed to “cling on” in No 10 once he has resigned as Tory leader and threatened to use a Commons confidence motion to oust him.
