People in Newcastle have spoken of their relief that Boris Johnson has finally resigned from his role as Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson today confirmed that he would be stepping down from his role with a new Tory leader set to be in place by the party conference in October. It comes after a string of scandals including the Downing Street parties during the 2020 lockdown.
The pressure was ramped up when it was revealed complaints were made to Mr Johnson in 2019 about the conduct of chief whip Chris Pincher, who quit last week following claims that he groped two men at a private members' club. On Tuesday Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit over the Prime Minister's conduct, leading to a wave of resignations by MPs.
Announcing his resignation today, Mr Johnson said: “In politics, no-one is remotely indispensable. I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them’s the breaks."
Following the news, Chronicle Live spoke to people on the streets of Newcastle to find out what they thought of the PM's resignation.
Lynda Armstrong, 57, who was visiting the city from Edinburgh, said she was glad Mr Johnson was quitting.
"It is a long time coming," she said.
"I have never liked him but during Covid, he just made an a*** of us all. It is about time he went. I think all of them [the MPs] are as bad as each other.
"To me, they all tell lies until they get in, it doesn't matter what party. If I had to pick right now it would be Labour. It can't be any worse than that idiot."
Alexander Dickson, 17, from Gateshead, thought it was about time the PM stepped down from his role.
"I think it is long overdue," he said.
"But I fear the person they put in next will be just as bad and will probably get away with it. I would like someone really incompetent to come in to really drag them down [the Conservative party] so we get someone else in.
"I want another election right now. It is needed."
Donna Stanley, 57, from Edinburgh, said she didn't know how the PM had managed to stay in his job for so long following the string of scandals.
"If he made the rules he should have stuck to the rules," she said.
"I think that's the problem. They have no shame. They promise us the world, the same as the Tories have done every time.
"I just think they [MPs] tell a load of lies it doesn't matter what party. I don't know how Boris managed to get away with it for so long."
Rebecca Kemp, 17, Gateshead, was pleased to see the back of the Prime Minister and said he was like a meme for the way he had conducted himself during his time in office.
"I am happy he is gone," she said. "He is like a meme "
Amy Burnham, 28, from Sunderland, also felt that the Prime Minister should have left when the partygate scandal came out.
"He should have done it ages ago when all of the party things came out," she said.
"I am just glad to see the back of him and his horrible hair!"
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