Scandal-hit Boris quits, who's next UK PM?

London: The race for the prime minister's post in the United Kingdom is wide open after incumbent PM Boris Johnson on Thursday announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader after he was abandoned by his close allies in the wake of a series of scandals that rocked his government.

Johnson, 58, said he will remain in charge at 10 Downing Street until the process of electing a new leader is completed. Those in the race for PM include Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, former Chancellor of the Treasury Rishi Sunak, former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Nadhim Zahawi, the Iraqiorigin minister and Indian-origin Home Secretary Priti Patel.

A decision on the top post is expected by the time of the Conservative Party conference scheduled for October. Blaming the "herd instinct" of his party as he delivered his resignation speech on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, Johnson expressed his sadness at giving up the "best job in the world" marking an end to his three tumultuous years in power.

"It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader and therefore a new Prime Minister,” said Johnson. He also highlighted some of his government's achievements, including the “fastest rollout in Europe” of COVID vaccines.

The resignation finally came after days of intense political frenzy and a steady stream of exits from within the UK Cabinet since Tuesday after controversies involving Tory leaders including drunken misconduct and the Partygate scandal of COVID law-breaking parties in Downing Street came to light.

Johnson's term as British PM will be remembered for setting India-UK relations on the course of a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership". Boris was seen as a cheerleader for closer ties with India.