UK prime minister

The contest to replace British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered pace on Sunday as five more candidates declared their intention to run, with many pledging lower taxes and a clean start from Johnson's scandal-ridden premiership.

Russian politicians lined up to celebrate the downfall of Boris Johnson on Thursday, casting the British leader as a "stupid clown" who had finally got his just reward for arming Ukraine against Russia.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson had a conventional rise to power for a Conservative politician: first the elite Eton College, then Oxford University.

Former British Prime Minister John Major said Boris Johnson should be replaced immediately rather than be allowed to remain as a caretaker leader because his cabinet may struggle to "restrain him", amid wider calls for him to be removed now.

Boris Johnson will announce his resignation as British Prime Minister on Thursday, a government source said, after he was abandoned by ministers and his Conservative Party's lawmakers who said he was no longer fit to govern.

Within a little over 24 hours, 43 ministers and their Tory MP aides had quit, mostly from more junior positions outside the cabinet, while Gove was sacked.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was clinging to power on Wednesday, after ministers quit the cabinet following a scandal over whether Johnson's office told the truth about sexual harassment allegations against a lawmaker.

Britain's finance and health ministers resigned in quick succession on Tuesday, in moves that put the future of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in peril after a series of scandals that have damaged his administration.

The resignations -- after a succession of crises that led to a vote of confidence in Johnson's leadership -- did nothing to dampen speculation that both men still have an eye on the top job.

Rishi Sunak quit as chancellor of the exchequer and Sajid Javid as health secretary, with both saying they could no longer tolerate the culture of scandal that has stalked Johnson for months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face questions in parliament followed by a grilling by senior lawmakers on Wednesday, with his premiership on the brink after a slew of resignations from ministers saying he was not fit to govern.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday he aims to remain in power until the middle of the next decade, despite calls for him to quit, which would make him the country's longest continuously serving leader in 200 years.

After clashing last year over sausages and submarines, France's Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Boris Johnson were all smiles at a G7 summit on Sunday, with disputes over Brexit not even coming up at bilateral talks focused mainly on Ukraine.

The more the Conservative whips use intimidation tactics to keep Johnson in power, the more enduring loyalty is likely to dissipate.

Barely three years into his party leadership, Johnson's authority is so damaged that it seems almost impossible for him to survive as PM to the next election.

The first piece of legislation these rebellious MPs are likely to take apart is the forthcoming bill designed to override parts of the Northern Ireland protocol.

The Tory Reform Group, formed in 1975, is the most hostile to Johnson, both personally and politically.

Rocked by a major revolt against his leadership this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Thursday promise to rejuvenate a flagging economy and make it easier for young people to buy homes.

For a man who long set his sights on becoming Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson came dangerously close on Monday to being ousted by lawmakers tired of defending him and faces a battle to win back the confidence of his party and country.

The history of such confidence votes in Conservative leaders tells us that they almost always end up damaging both the leader and the party even when they support the incumbent.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a confidence vote on Monday following a series of scandals, including a damning official report about COVID-19 lockdown-breaking parties at his official residence.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a confidence vote on Monday but a large rebellion in his Conservative Party over the so-called "partygate" scandal dealt a blow to his authority and leaves him with a struggle to win back support.

Johnson became the first serving UK prime minister found to have broken the law while in office when he was fined by police for attending a birthday party in June 2020.

Johnson can be seen raising a glass and chatting with several people around a table with bottles of wine and food.

Earlier on Sunday, Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney urged Johnson not to introduce new trade laws that he said could undermine the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Johnson and his government are keen to return the focus on what they call the "real issues" and turn the page on scandals

The elections are seen as a test of support for Johnson, who became the first British leader in living memory to have broken the law while in office

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, regularly emphasises the independence struggle as a vital component of India's national identity.

One national survey suggested around two-thirds of the public spoke negatively about Johnson

Opponents have urged the prime minister to resign over the issue.