Boris Johnson will stand down as the leader of the Conservative party today following more than 50 ministerial resignations.
He will continue to serve as Prime Minster until the autumn to allow for a leadership contest to take place, The Lincolnite understands.
Johnson is expected to make an address the British public on Thursday, July 7.
In Lincolnshire, Louth and Horncastle MP Victoria Atkins stepped down from her role as Justice Secretary. MP for Grantham and Stamford Gareth Davies, and Sleaford and North Hykeham MP Caroline Johnson resigned the following day.
Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
In Lincoln, 1922 Committee member and MP Karl McCartney released a statement encouraging the PM to throw in the towel, after a period of silence about the party’s turmoil.
He said: “It has become clear to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, that he no longer has the confidence of a growing number of his colleagues in the Conservative Parliamentary Party. Therefore, the time has come for the Prime Minister to take the decision to resign and allow the Conservative Party the opportunity to select and elect a new leader.
“I, and many of my constituents, and Parliamentary colleagues, have a lot to be grateful for that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has achieved and undertaken as the Leader of our Country. His unique brand will be missed by those of us who admired his willingness to deliver Brexit and the way he tackled the pandemic and the war in Eastern Europe.”
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson became Prime Minister on July 24, 2019 after having previously been Foreign Secretary between 2016 and 2018.
A No 10 source said Mr Johnson had spoken to the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, and agreed to stand down, with a new Tory leader set to be in place by the party’s conference in October.
Boris Johnson came under fire for how he handled the coronavirus pandemic, scandals over parties during restrictions, and allegations that Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher groped two men at a private members’ club. He also previously survived a vote of no confidence but, after nearly three years in the role his time is finally up.
However, Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh previously said he “remains a firm supporter” of Boris Johnson, while Grimsby MP Lia Nici reportedly gave her continued backing to the 58-year-old Prime Minister.
Just five months ago, Boris Johnson visited The Lincolnite newsroom to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, devolution and levelling up.
Joined by Conservative Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, the Prime Minister sat down to an interview with the Greater Lincolnshire news team, fresh from a windy runway meeting with military analysts at RAF Waddington.
Take a look back at Boris Johnson’s most recent visit to Lincolnshire in February 2022:
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Court summons are pending for two motorists, one in a car and another on a motorbike, after they clocked up unbelievable speeds on the A46 on Tuesday.
Lincolnshire Police Specialist Operations received two reports of excessive speeds on the A46 between Newark and Lincoln on Tuesday.
A car and motorbike both hit speeds of almost double the dual carriageway speed limit, with the car driver reaching 120 miles per hour and the motorbike going even quicker at 127mph.
Both motorists will be receiving a summons for court “in due course”, according to Lincolnshire Police.
Work by our Lincoln Neighbourhood Policing Teams to combat theft in the city has had another boost following the charge of a further two individuals.
Adam Golightly, 43, of Allandale View, Lincoln, was arrested following a proactive shop theft operation in the city centre last week. He has been charged with seven counts of theft and two bike thefts.
All of the shop thefts are reported to have taken place at Co-op stores in the city centre area and Carholme Road between June and last week. Items stolen included meat and cleaning products to the value of £424. The bike thefts also happened during that period. One of the bikes stolen was valued at £360, the other was an unknown value.
Following a hearing at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 12 August where he entered a not guilty plea, he has been given conditional bail and will appear at the court for trial on 22 September. His bail condition is not to enter any Coop store in Lincolnshire.
In a separate case, Carl Atkin, 37, of Friar’s Lane, Lincoln, was charged on 11 August with five bike thefts which took place at different times and locations across the city. On 12 August at a hearing at Lincoln Magistrate’s Court, he was given a 10 week sentence, suspended for 12 months.
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