Johnson resigns, remains UK prime minister for now

Johnson resigns, remains UK prime minister for now

Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives to read a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, formally resigning as Conservative Party leader, in London, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Johnson said Thursday he will remain as British prime minister while a leadership contest is held to choose his successor. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned, acknowledging that it is “clearly the will” of his party that he should go. He stepped down immediately as leader of his Conservative Party but plans to remain as prime minister while the leadership contest is held. He said he has appointed a new Cabinet following a multitude of resignations, but many are calling for him to go now. It is a humiliating defeat for Johnson, who succeeded in leading Britain out of the European Union and was credited with rolling out one of the world’s most successful mass vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19.

Photo: (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)