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BORIS Johnson has officially resigned – but he will continue to steer Government as the quest for a new leader begins.
The PM has quit as Tory leader after ministers and MPs made clear his position was untenable, with support crumbling around him in recent days.
But during his resignation speech, Mr Johnson said he will remain as Prime Minister until a successor is in place, expected to be by the time of the Conservative Party conference in October.
The embattled leader said he sought to stay Prime Minister because he felt it was his “obligation” to continue to do what the Tories promised in 2019.
“I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many of them voting Conservative for the first time, thank you for that incredible mandate, the biggest Conservative majority since 1987, the biggest share of the vote since 1979.
“And the reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person was not just because I wanted to do so, but because I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to continue to do what we promised in 2019. And of course, I’m immensely proud of the achievements of this Government.”
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.
It came after nearly 60 Tory MPs – including a slew of Ministers today – resigned in protest at the PM’s battered leadership, which has spiralled since the Chris Pincher scandal.
Read our Boris Johnson live blog below for the latest up-to-date news…
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