Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and will remain as caretaker prime minister until a replacement is decided.
Look back at how the events unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- Watch Boris Johnson's full resignation speech
- The PM says 'no-one is remotely indispensible'
- BREAKING: Boris Johnson resigns as party leader
- Downing Street has confirmed Johnson's replacement cabinet
- Who are the eligible successors?
- Conservatives describe the situation as a 'depressing state of affairs'
- Opposition Leader Kier Starmer says this is 'good news'
- How did we get here?
- Here's what you need to know
Live updates
By Jessica Riga
This is where we'll wrap up our live coverage
It's official. British Prime Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party but will remain as caretaker PM until a new leader is chosen.
We'll wrap up our live coverage here, but you can continue to stay up to date here on the ABC News website and on our app.
Thank you for your company! From all of us, goodnight.
By Jessica Riga
In pictures: Boris Johnson resigns as Conservative Party leader
By Jessica Riga
Here's a recap of what's happened
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned after a string of cabinet resignations. You can watch his full resignation speech here.
- He will step down as leader of the Conservative Party but remain as caretaker Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen.
- Mr Johnson could remain as caretaker Prime Minister for several months, until a new leader is chose before the party conference in October. These are the front runners to take his place.
- In his resignation speech, Johnson said: "In politics, no one is remotely indispensable." You can look back on his time in the top job here.
By Jessica Riga
Who could replace Boris Johnson as UK prime minister?
Unlike in Australian leadership spills, things don't move super quickly and a replacement for Boris Johnson will take some time to appoint.
Jack Hawke walks us through who the front runners are in his piece below.
By Lucia Stein
Why did Johnson wait so long to resign?
Before resigning today, Boris Johnson had clung onto power for two days, refusing to leave the top job even after a visit from a group of senior ministers at Downing Street yesterday.
In his short resignation speech earlier, the PM said he waited to make the decision to resign as he had been keen to deliver on the British voters' mandate.
He said he felt it was his "duty and obligation" to do what he had promised.
"In the last few days, I've tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate …"
"And I regret not to have been successful in those arguments."
By Jessica Riga
Booing could be heard during Johnson's speech
Boris Johnson stepped outside Number 10 earlier to deliver his resignation speech, which we've posted in full just below.
Throughout his speech you can hear booing from the British public, particularly during this quote, and beforehand when Johnson mentioned the National Health Service.
"To you, the British public, I know that they will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few will also be disappointed.
"I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them's the brakes."
By Lucia Stein
Watch Boris Johnson's full resignation speech
The Prime Minister said he was sad to be giving up the top job and it was painful "to not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects".
Here's the speech in full:
By Lucia Stein
What happens now?
Reports suggest the internal election to pick the new leader of the Conservative Party is likely to take place over the summer.
This is how the next steps could unfold:
- Leadership candidates are expected to come forward, with the endorsement of at least some of their colleagues
- A secret vote will be held among Conservative MPs to narrow down the list of candidates
- If only one person puts themselves forward, they become leader with no need for a vote from members
- But if there is a contest, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed and MPs will vote again
- That process will continue until only two candidates remain
Those final two politicians are then put to a postal ballot of the wider Conservative Party membership, with the winner named the new leader.
By Jessica Riga
A look at Boris Johnson's rise and dramatic fall in politics
Less than three years after winning a general election in a landslide, Boris Johnson has failed to last a single term. Europe correspondent Isabella Higgins reports.
By Jessica Riga
'We're all in for a nightmare if he's allowed to squat'
The reactions are starting to come in.
Boris Johnson's former top adviser Dominic Cummings has delivered his verdict on the PM's resignation speech.
He says "we're all in for a nightmare" if Johnson remains as British prime minister while a leadership contest is held.
By Lucia Stein
Brexit made Boris Johnson, but another crisis brought him undone
My colleague Bridget Brennan and I have looked at the colourful career of Britain's leader.
Ultimately, if a narrowly won no-confidence vote had left Boris Johnson wounded in June, the open questioning of his integrity by his own colleagues in the last couple of days signalled the end of his career.
Now the charismatic rogue who delivered the Conservatives their biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher's 1987 victory will also share her fate, resigning in disgrace after immense cabinet pressure.
Read more here:
By Lucia Stein
Critics say Boris Johnson shouldn't be allowed to remain caretaker PM
Boris Johnson has said he will remain as British prime minister while a leadership contest is held to choose his successor.
But critics say he should not be allowed to remain as caretaker and he should be removed from office as soon as possible.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said Mr Johnson "needs to go completely".
By Jessica Riga
Johnson 'immensely proud' for 'getting Brexit done'
"I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many voting Conservative for the first time, thank you for that mandate.
"It was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to do what we promised in 2019.
"I'm immensely proud of this government for getting Brexit done."
By Jessica Riga
Johnson acknowledges Russia's war in Ukraine
"To the people of Ukraine, we in the UK will continue to back your fight for freedom, as long as it takes."
By Jessica Riga
Johnson reflects on time in top job
Boris Johnson has acknowleged the challenges of the last few years.
"Getting us all through the pandemic, delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, the fastest exit from lockdown, and standing up to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine."
By Lucia Stein
The PM says 'no-one is remotely indispensible'
As he announced his decision to step down, Boris Johnson said "no-one is remotely indispensible".
"For the new leader, I say I will give you as much support as I can.
"... I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but those are the breaks."
By Lucia Stein
BREAKING: Boris Johnson resigns as party leader
Boris Johnson said he would step down as conservative party leader but remain as Prime Minister in a caretaker role until a new leader can be elected.
By Jessica Riga
One more cabinet replacement has been announced
Andrew Stephenson has been appointed Minister without Portfolio.
