Boris Johnson will step down as British Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he will step down from the position because “when the herd moves, it moves.”

The stampede being referenced was the mass resignation of about half of Johnson’s government this week in protest of his leadership. “Them’s the breaks,” Johnson acknowledged as he reluctantly announced his resignation.

How we got here

Johnson, a pro-Brexit politician in the Conservative Party, was selected to become prime minister in 2019 after his predecessor, Theresa May, resigned when she couldn’t close a deal to get the UK out of the EU. Later that year, Johnson led the Conservatives to a blowout election win and did close a Brexit deal.

But like in any prestige TV drama, the main character suffered a major fall from grace in the later seasons. Johnson was plagued by numerous scandals, from his staff throwing parties during Covid lockdowns to his appointment of an official despite knowing about the sexual misconduct allegations against him. Following each scandal, Johnson’s administration had to clarify misleading statements they made initially, compounding the backlash.

Perhaps the only people saddened over Johnson’s departure are Ukrainian leaders. Johnson has offered above-and-beyond support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, and was deemed a “true friend” by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russian officials, meanwhile, are basking in the glow of Johnson’s fading star. “He doesn’t like us; we don’t like him either,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

And what happens next?

Johnson stepped down as the leader of the Conservative Party, which means he’ll remain a “caretaker” prime minister until the party (not the voters) selects a new boss. Potential contenders to replace Johnson include former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and—NBA fans are going to love this—Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.

Zoom out: In his resignation speech yesterday, Johnson said he was sad to give up “the best job in the world.” Fact check: three Pinocchios. Whoever replaces Johnson will have a daunting challenge ahead of them, specifically on the economic front. Britain’s inflation rate is the highest in the G7, at more than 9%. And its economic growth rate, which has been subdued for more than a decade, is expected to be the lowest in the G7 next year. This bleak outlook has UK economists whispering the “s” word—stagflation.

For a laugh: How Americans reacted to Boris Johnson’s resignation.—NF