Boris Johnson resigns, but remains UK PM until successor named

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party on Thursday after dozens of ministers abandoned his government this week following a series of bruising scandals.

Johnson, 58, made the announcement in a televised speech outside his Downing Street office, but said he would stay on as prime minister until a successor is named.

The timetable for a Conservative Party leadership race will be announced next week, he said. The leadership election will take place over the summer and the winner will replace Johnson by the party’s annual conference in early October, the BBC and others reported.