Anonymous Responds To News Boris Johnson Is Set To Resign

Anonymous has responded to news that Boris Johnson will be resigning as prime minister, referring to the politician as a ‘clown’. 

Shortly after 9:00am today, news broke that Johnson would resign as Conservative leader, meaning a leadership race for the party would take place this summer before a new prime minister is put in place by autumn. 

Confirming the resignation, a No. 10 spokesperson said Johnson would make a statement to the country later today. 

As the headlines came flooding in, hacker group Anonymous shared its stance on the matter, simply tweeting: “It’s over for BoJo the clown.”

Shortly before news of the resignation came, Anonymous had also shared a political cartoon of Johnson by Patrick Blower, which originally circulated last month to depict him claiming a ‘victory’ in a vote of confidence, despite only surviving by a narrow margin. 

Earlier this morning, a Number 10 source told the PA news agency that Johnson has spoken to Tory 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and agreed to stand down. 

The source said a new leader would be ‘in place’ by the time the Conservative Party Conference rolls around in October. 

Johnson, who was previously the Mayor of London, assumed office in July 2019, leading the country throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 

His resignation comes after it was confirmed Johnson was previously made aware of an investigation into inappropriate behaviour from Conservative MP Chris Pincher back in 2019.  

Pincher resigned last week after he was accused of groping two men, and on Monday it emerged he had previously been investigated over his conduct three years back. 

Number 10 had initially denied that Johnson knew about the claims, but a spokesperson confirmed Johnson had been briefed on the complaint in 2019. 

Boris Johnson outside No. 10. Credit: Alamy

The spokesperson added: “I would add a caveat at least that this was related to a conversation, and what I believe to have been a brief conversation, that took place around three years ago.” 

Johnson apologised for appointing Chris Pincher deputy chief whip, saying it ‘was a mistake’ and admitted that ‘in hindsight the wrong thing to do’. 

He said: “The complaint was cleared up, he apologised. It was raised with me, I was briefed on what had happened and if I had my time again I’d think back on it and I’d realise he wasn’t going to learn a lesson and he wasn’t going to change.” 

The resignation also follows a wave of other resignations within the party as fellow Conservatives put pressure on Johnson to step down. 

Posting on Twitter, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak stated: “The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. 

“I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.” 

Sajid Javid, who had served as Health Secretary, also said: “I have spoken to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care. 

“It has been an enormous privilege to serve in this role, but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience.”