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In this file photo taken on January 26, 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks down at the podium as he attends a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street in central London. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Boris Johnson resigned as UK prime minister on Thursday after senior cabinet members, including newly appointed finance minister Nadhim Zahawi, called on him to quit.
Johnson made the announcement of his resignation outside 10 Downing Street, saying he is "sad to be giving up the best job in the world."
The resignation followed the departure of some of his top ministers. In a letter submitted by newly-appointed chancellor Zahawi, he turned the knife on the prime minister and called on the embattled leader to "go now."
"No one will forget getting Brexit done, keeping a dangerous antisemite out of No10," Zahawi said, referring to Johnson's triumph over former Labor leader and MP Jeremy Corbyn.
"But the country deserves a Government that is not only stable, but which acts with integrity," he added, calling on the premier to do the right thing and "go now."
Chancellor Zahawi's replacement as education minister, Michelle Donelan, also resigned from the government on Thursday a mere two days after being appointed.
The UK government has been hit with a series of resignations of senior cabinet members recently, launched by the withdrawals of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday.
Johnson has been clinging to power despite scandal after scandal and a wave of more than 50 resignations in the UK government.
A Conservative leadership race will take place this summer and a new PM will take power by the time the Tory party conference commences in October.
Updated at 2:42pm with resignation
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