Boris Johnson resigns as British Conservative leader today

Boris Johnson will resign as Conservative leader today – he will continue as Prime Minister until the autumn.

A Conservative leadership race will take place this summer and a new Prime Minister will be in place in time for the Tory party conference in October.

Reacting to the breaking news of Boris Johnson’s planned resignation, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood says he’s “glad he recognised the damage that was being done not just to the party brand but also our international stock”, he tells the Today Programme.

Ellwood adds the party now has a “massive amount of regrouping to do”.

A No 10 spokesman said: “The prime minister will make a statement to the country today.”

Mr Johnson spoke to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, to inform him of his decision, a No 10 source says.

“The Prime Minister has spoken to Graham Brady and agreed to stand down in time for a new leader to be in place by the conference in October,” the source added.

Conservative MP Robert Buckland says “the views of colleagues” will have pushed Boris Johnson to resign today, adding “he has bowed to the inevitable”.

He says Johnson managed to “break the logjam on Brexit”.

But he says he now hopes the Conservative Party can “get back to values” such as “freedom under the law”.

How pressure on the PM snowballed this morning

After a record number of resignations in 24 hours, the pressure on Boris Johnson ramped up even further this morning:

• Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis became the first cabinet minister of the morning to resign, saying things were “past the point of no return”
• He was swiftly followed by a succession of other junior ministers
• No 10 remained silent, with many speculating about what was going on
• Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who has only been in post for two days, publicly called for the PM to “go now”
• Immediately afterwards, newly appointed Education Secretary Michelle Donelan resigned, saying she had “pleaded” with the PM to resign
• Less than half an hour later, the news broke that Johnson had agreed to stand down

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