Now with the government in shambles, bookmakers and much of Britain are speculating on his likely successor. All candidates running for leadership go through voting rounds of Conservative lawmakers until only two remain – at which point Conservative Party members will vote nationally. The winner will be the new party leader – and prime minister.
Here’s a look at the potential competitors.
Rishi Sunak
The former chancellor was Johnson’s heir presumptive for several months after winning praise for overseeing Britain’s initial financial response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But he has suffered several of his own scandals during his reign.
Sunak’s shares fell earlier this year after it was revealed he flouted Covid regulations to attend the Prime Minister’s birthday party on June 19, 2020, for which he later apologized “unreservedly”.
His financial and legal affairs came under scrutiny this spring after it was reported that his wife had non-domicile status in the UK – meaning she did not have to pay tax on foreign earnings – and that during his tenure as minister held a US Green Card.
Its popularity has also taken a hit in recent weeks as Britain has suffered the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Sunak has struggled to keep rising inflation low and has been criticized by opposition parties for what they call a slow and inadequate set of fiscal measures. The economic problems facing Britons following Sunak’s tenure as UK Treasury Secretary include: real wages falling to their lowest level in more than 21 years and inflation, which hit 9.1% in May hit a 40-year high. But he’s still among the bookies’ clear favorites to take over Johnson’s job.
Sajid Javid
“Once again this week we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we have all been told. At some point we have to come to the conclusion that enough is enough,” the former health secretary told the House of Commons Wednesday on the Pincher appointment and allegations.
Something is “fundamentally wrong” with the government, he added, and “the problem starts at the top”.
Although Javid’s resignation speech sounded a lot like a pitch for prime minister, outlining how the party could be reshaped for future generations, it’s not yet clear if he will run.
But those who support Javid’s candidacy hope he will be credited with sparking Johnson’s final downfall, as he was the first cabinet minister to resign – although Sunak succeeded him minutes later.
The MP has run for party leadership twice in the past – in 2016 after the Brexit referendum and in 2019 when Johnson was finally elected.
Liz Truss
The foreign minister, who has announced her leadership ambitions in recent years, could now be in pole position. Liz Truss voted for Remain in 2016 but has since become one of the most vocal Eurosceptic voices in government, which many attribute to her desire for the top job.
She has an impressive and dedicated team around her – some of whom have previously worked at Number 10 – who have produced slick videos and photos in which she looks thoroughly statesmanlike. She has apparently tried to channel former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who wears a headscarf while driving a tank, and her role in responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has also raised her public profile.
Truss is popular with conservative members who would pick the eventual winner of a contest. But Johnson’s ouster could simultaneously stain everyone in his cabinet, meaning Conservative voters could turn to a backbench to take the mantle.
Last month, a source working at the State Department told CNN that Truss had been “in endless meetings with MPs” and was “supposed to see what her base of support is, should the time come.” Truss’s office denied that a covert leadership offer was coming.
Penny Mordaunt
The trade secretary is one of bookmakers’ favorites to replace Johnson. A poll of party members released July 4 by the Conservative Home website ranked her as the second favorite choice behind current Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace.
Mordaunt first entered Parliament in 2010 and later joined Theresa May’s cabinet, where he served as Minister for International Development and Defense.
Following last month’s confidence vote, Penny Mordaunt declined to comment on whether she supports Johnson, raising eyebrows among Westminster watchers when she said: “I didn’t vote for this Prime Minister.”
Tom Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat, a former British military officer who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, was one of Johnson’s most outspoken critics, urging the Conservative Party to drop its focus on “divisive politics”. Tugendhat wrote: “I have served before – in the military and now in Parliament. Now I hope to once again answer the call as Prime Minister. It’s time for a clean start. It is time for renewal.”
He outlined his vision for tackling the cost of living crisis, lowering taxes and investing in neglected areas of the UK.
Although he has no cabinet or shadow cabinet experience, Tugendhat has impressed his colleagues with his rhetorical skills and sincerity, especially when speaking about the Afghan case. He entered Parliament in 2015 after serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some key centrist conservatives have already thrown their support behind the relative wildcard, but some fear his experience is too focused on foreign policy.
Nadhim Zahawi
Less than two days after being appointed chancellor to replace Sunak, Nadhim Zahawi publicly called for Johnson to resign. “Do the right thing and go now,” he said in a statement Twitter Accompanying letter to the Prime Minister.
Until his promotion, Zahawi, who joined the cabinet less than a year ago, was considered an unlikely choice as the next prime minister. But his rise under Johnson was rapid, making his mark with early success as vaccines secretary amid the coronavirus pandemic and then as education secretary.
Despite his vote to leave the European Union in 2016, Zahawi is widely admired by moderates in the party. Crucially, as one conservative source put it: “He hasn’t been in government long enough to have any obvious flaws, and while he supports Boris even after the confidence vote, he’s not too tainted by association.”
Born in Iraq to Kurdish parents, Zahawi came to the UK at the age of 9 when his family fled Saddam Hussein’s regime. He is considered one of the wealthiest politicians in the House of Commons and helped found the polling company YouGov.
Jeremy Hunt
Jeremy Hunt, former Health and Foreign Secretary, lost the leadership election to Johnson in 2019. He has since stylized himself as an antidote to Johnson and is arguably the most high-profile contender on the party’s moderate ex-Remain side.
In a statement on Twitter ahead of the confidence vote in June, Hunt said: “Anyone who believes our country is stronger, fairer and more prosperous when run by Conservatives should consider that the consequence of not changing will be the country.” giving it to others who do it doesn’t share those values. Today’s decision is change or defeat. I will vote for change.”
Significantly, Hunt’s statement focused primarily on the Conservatives’ chances of electoral success under Johnson and not on his politics or the Partygate scandal – a decision that could be read as a pitch to Tory MPs and members who would decide a leadership election. However, he is coming with luggage and opposition Labor Party sources have told CNN they are already writing lines of attack.
“It can’t be Jeremy. Labor can say he ran the health service for six years and failed to prepare for a pandemic. You can tell when he was culture secretary he befriended the Murdochs during the phone hacking scandal. He’s going to be crushed,” a senior Conservative source told CNN.
Other possible contenders
Ben Wallace: Since his appointment as Secretary of Defense in 2019, Ben Wallace has received recognition for his handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Wallace, a former army captain, has managed to avoid scandal and has topped Conservative Home’s recent poll of potential Johnson successors. It’s still unclear whether he wants the job. He declined to comment on whether he would run while speaking to reporters on Thursday.Michael Gove: Michael Gove, the minister responsible for Johnson’s flagship Leveling Up agenda aimed at transforming Britain’s forgotten communities, has been fired from Cabinet after urging Johnson to resign. Gove worked closely with Johnson on the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 before derailing his candidacy by running against him for party leader – a move he called a “mistake” last month. He has said he would not run again, but if history is any indication, he might change his mind.
Steve Baker: The anti-Green MP, who heads the European Research Group credited with a hard Brexit, has confirmed he is considering running for prime minister. Steve Baker told the Guardian that if he won, he would scale back environmental policies and increase the country’s consumption and domestic gas production.
Suella Bravermann: The Attorney General has signaled her intention to enter a future contest. In an interview with ITV, Suella Braverman called on Johnson to resign, saying she would be entering a leadership race to replace him, saying: “It would be the greatest honour.”
Jorge Engels of CNN in London contributed to this report.