Is it really over for Boris Johnson?

It’s Boris day in Westminster. First, the publication of his resignations honours list and now a resignation from the man himself. This evening Boris Johnson has released a statement announcing that he has ‘today written to my Association in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to say that I am stepping down forthwith and triggering an immediate by-election’. Johnson adds that he is ‘very sorry’ to leave the ‘wonderful constituency’. His decision comes after he was passed a draft report of the Privileges Committee, which is understood to recommend a suspension of more than ten days: the length that could spark a by-election.

Referencing the findings of the report, Johnson says he is ‘very sad’ to be leaving parliament at ‘least for now’ but is ultimately appalled at the ‘anti-democratic’ push to force him out by the committee led by Harriet Harman. Johnson also uses the statement to say that the Tory party has lost momentum and needs to cut business and personal taxes ‘and not just as pre-election gimmicks’.