'Even if Things Seem Dark Now, Our Future Is Golden': Boris Johnson Resigns as British PM

Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was resigning as Britain's prime minister, bowing to calls from ministerial colleagues and lawmakers in his Conservative Party.

"The process of choosing that new leader should begin now," Johnson said at the door of Number 10 Downing Street, adding that he will stay in office until his successor is chosen, "And today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place."

The outgoing prime minister thanked the British public, saying that "even if things seem dark now, our future is golden."

"So I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many of them voting Conservative for the first time: 'Thank you for that incredible mandate, the biggest Conservative majority since 1987, the biggest share of the vote since 1979.'

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Up until today, Johnson had rebuffed calls by his cabinet to step down in the wake of ethics scandals. He gave in only after dozens of ministers quit his government and demanded he resign.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, one of the candidates to replace Johnson, said his decision to resign was "the right one."