Boris Johnson announces resignation as UK Prime Minister

Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as prime minister after less than three years in Number 10, saying: "No one in politics is remotely indispensable."

Speaking from Downing Street, he thanked the millions of people who voted Conservative at the last election, and said the reason he fought so long to remain in office was because "I thought it was my job, my duty and my obligation to you". 

He also said he had tried to persuade his cabinet it would be "eccentric" to change prime minister now, but added: "I regret not to have been successful in those arguments. "At Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves." Mr Johnson confirmed the process to appoint a new leader would begin now, with a timetable set out next week. 

Yet it is still not clear exactly when he will leave Number 10 for the final time, and his new cabinet has met this afternoon to talk about its plans.

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