Most members of the Conservative Party reacted with satisfaction after Boris Johnson’s speech, in which he announced his resignation as party leader and eventually as prime minister. They believe that Johnson has made the right decision and that the country can now move on.
Foreign Minister Liz Truss agrees. She thinks now is the time for “peace and unity” to rule until a new leader is found.
MP Tom Tugendhat was the first to make himself available to succeed Johnson in January and is pleased that Johnson is now stepping down. He praises Johnson for his policy during the Brexit, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, but calls it a good decision to resign now. Tugendhat is one of the top contenders in the leadership election, according to polls.
New party leader
Johnson says he will remain as acting prime minister until the Conservative Party elects a new party leader, who will also become prime minister. Not all conservatives agree. Former Secretary of State George Freeman, for example, has called for immediate departures so that someone else can temporarily lead the country. Dominic Raab is often mentioned in British media for this, because he is the current Deputy Prime Minister.
When asked about succession to former Prime Minister Theresa May, she responded evasively. She didn’t think a replacement prime minister would be needed. In any case, for the next prime minister, she would like to see someone who focuses on counteracting the conflict and who can “bring unity in the party and in the country”.