Boris Johnson made his resignation statement outside Ten Downing Street but wants to hang on as Prime Minister for months yet until a successor is chosen.

He said he was “sad” to be giving up “the best job in the world”.

Johnson took a swipe at the MPs and ministers who had forced him into resigning blaming the “herd instinct”.

It was clear, he said the Conservative MPs have decided there should be a new leader.

He said: “The herd instinct at Westminster is powerful, when it moves it moves.”

"In politics no-one is remotely indispensible."

Johnson added: “To teh British public, I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them’s the breaks.

Johnson said he had achieved successes and said he wanted to fight on.

He said he was “immensely proud” of “getting Brexit done” and of “the fastest vaccine roll-out” and “leading the west in standing up to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine”.

He cited the Election win in 2019 which he said was the “biggest Conservative majority since 1987”.

He said: “The reason I’ve fought so hard to continue was because I felt it was my job my duty to you (the British people).

Johnson did not give a timescale, only that the process should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week.

The Prime Minister said a new leader would take over, but he has just appointed new ministers to cabinet and hopes to remain in office until October when a new leader would be announced at the Conservative Party Conference.

He said: “Our brilliant Darwinian system will produce another leader to change and improve how we do things.

“To the new leader, whoever he or she may be, I will give you as much support as I can.

"I want to thank you, the British public.  From now on until the new Prime Minister is in place your interests will be served and the Government will carry on.”