As top Tories began jostling for position in the leadership contest, Boris Johnson tried to quell fears that he might overstep the mark as interim leader.
| Boris Johnson has promised to tread lightly during his weeks or months as caretaker prime minister, as he seeks to neutralise the controversy over his decision to remain in Downing Street.
Former Conservative prime minister John Major wrote to Graham Brady, the chairman of the committee that writes the party’s rulebook, saying Mr Johnson’s move was “unwise and may be unsustainable”. Controversial attorney-general Suella Braverman has thrown her hat in the ring, and Mr Johnson’s doughty media defender Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, also said he might run. Neither are strong favourites.
Typically MPs whittle down the field to a final pair, using a series of elimination ballots. They have until parliament rises on July 21 to get this stage done. “Some will argue that his new cabinet will restrain him. I merely note that his previous cabinet did not - or could not - do so.”But former prime minister and regular Johnson critic Theresa May told the Institute for Government that there was a precedent.
Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the dysfunctional government needed to put a new caretaker leader in place.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boris Johnson resigns as John Major warns he must not stay as caretaker prime minister – liveFormer prime minister says it would be ‘unwise’ to let Johnson hang on until the autumn
Read more »
Boris Johnson to resign as Tory leader but hopes to stay on as PMJohnson pushing to stay on as PM until autumn but is likely to face intense pressure from colleagues to quit that role too
Read more »
Former UK PM John Major blasts decision to keep Johnson in role
Read more »
‘Johnson on the brink’: what the papers said about Boris Johnson’s cabinet resignationsThe front pages are almost unanimous in declaring that the prime minister’s time in No 10 could be up soon
Read more »
Sajid Javid gives resignation statement as Boris Johnson vows to ‘keep going’ despite calls to quit – livePMQs live: Boris Johnson vows to ‘keep going’ despite calls to quit and string of ministerial resignations
Read more »
Boris Johnson set to resign as PMBoris Johnson is set to step down from his role as British Prime Minister following a string of resignations from more than 57 ministers in the last 48 hours.
Read more »