Nicola Sturgeon, Keir Starmer and others react to Boris Johnson resignation

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there will be “widespread relief” that Boris Johnson is quitting as Prime Minister.

She also questioned whether it was “sustainable” for him to remain in the role until the autumn.

She tweeted: “There will be a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end, though notion of Boris Johnson staying on as PM until autumn seems far from ideal, and surely not sustainable?

“Boris Johnson was always manifestly unfit to be PM and the Tories should never have elected him leader or sustained him in office for as long as they have.

“But the problems run much deeper than one individual.

“The Westminster system is broken.”

1. There will be a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end, though notion of Boris Johnson staying on as PM until autumn seems far from ideal, and surely not sustainable? https://t.co/SQXuCC1HYH

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 7, 2022

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was “good news” that Boris Johnson is resigning but “we don’t need to change the Tory at the top – we need a proper change of government”.

His statement in response to Boris Johnson’s resignation also said the prime minister should have gone “long ago,” and that he was “always unfit for office.”

It continues: ” The Tory Party have inflicted chaos upon the country during the worst cost of living crisis in decades and they cannot now pretend they are the ones to sort it out.”

“The damage they have done is profound.”

The Conservatives have overseen 12 years of economic stagnation, declining public services and empty promises.

We don’t need to change the Tory at the top – we need a proper change of government.

We need a fresh start for Britain. pic.twitter.com/uMxRTomXX9

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 7, 2022

Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales said he was “pleased” Boris Johnson has “now done the right thing.”

All four nations need a stable UK Government and I am therefore pleased to see the Prime Minister has now done the right thing and agreed to resign.

— Mark Drakeford (@PrifWeinidog) July 7, 2022

The pound was trading higher on the news of Boris Johnson’s resignation – up 0.6% at 1.198 US dollars and 0.4% stronger at 1.174 euros.

Boris Johnson will publicly announce his resignation later today, likely before lunchtime, the BBC is reporting.

Around a third of all MPs who held non-Cabinet ministerial positions at the start of the week have now resigned.

Ireland’s children’s minister said he hopes changes within the British Government will be an opportunity to reset Ireland’s relationship with the UK.

Roderic O’Gorman said any opportunity to improve the damaged relationship would be welcome.

Boris Johnson resigns as leader of the Conservative party but will remain prime minister until Autumn

“This situation has been changing dramatically all day, and indeed even this morning, and we’ll continue to watch it with fascination,” he said.

“I hope it is an opportunity for a reset. I think everybody in the Irish Government recognises that relations between the UK and Ireland are at a really poor point at the moment, particularly in terms of the proposed legislation on the (Northern Ireland) protocol.

“Any opportunity to improve that, any opportunity for a reset is something I think all of us in government, indeed everyone in the country, would welcome.

“The UK are our closest neighbours and relations shouldn’t be like they are at the moment.”