It is clearly that the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party is that there should be a new leader of the party, and therefore a new prime minister, Johnson said in a televised speech to the nation outside 10 Downing Street, seat of the British Government.

The controversial minister, who had to accept the resignation of 59 cabinet members in just 24 hours, said that the process of choosing the new leader should begin now, although he confirmed that he will remain as a prime minister until a new Conservative leader is elected.

Johnson’s resignation gives way to a leadership contest among party legislators whose plan will be announced next week, and could culminate in October, when the Tory party expects to hold its annual conference.

The possibility that the resigning prime minister stays in power until the fall is rejected by the political opposition in Parliament and not a few Conservative lawmakers, who would prefer that he steps down as head of Government immediately.

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