Jump directly to the content

BORIS Johnson wearily ­concluded he had to resign as Foreign Secretary over sandwiches with his aides yesterday lunchtime.

As they munched on ham and cheese sarnies, washed down with Diet Cokes, the arch-Brexiteer realised he would struggle to publicly defend Theresa May’s latest fudge.

 Boris Johnson has resigned as Foreign Secretary over Theresa May's Brexit plans
27
Boris Johnson has resigned as Foreign Secretary over Theresa May's Brexit plansCredit: PA:Press Association
 Boris resignation from Theresa Mays cabinet came after David Davis left the night before
27
Boris resignation from Theresa Mays cabinet came after David Davis left the night beforeCredit: Reuters

A friend said BoJo had been asked to write a joint article with Remain-voting Chancellor Philip Hammond for the weekend papers — and declared: “I can’t sign up to this.”

Just 72 hours earlier the PM had hailed an end to Cabinet Brexit wars, claiming a soft Brexit victory.

But Boris knew the plan to keep Britain lashed to Brussels forever was not what he had sold the public as the face of Vote Leave.

After a heavy-hearted phone call with Brexit boss David Davis on Sunday evening ahead of his own resignation, a restless night left the explosive departure all but inevitable.

Boris Johnson leaves Foreign Secretary's residence after resigning from Theresa May's cabinet over Brexit
 Boris Johnson was seen for the first time since quitting the government leaving the official residence of the Foreign Secretary
27
Boris Johnson was seen for the first time since quitting the government leaving the official residence of the Foreign SecretaryCredit: PA:Press Association
 Boris has been replaced as Foreign Secretary by Jeremy Hunt
27
Boris has been replaced as Foreign Secretary by Jeremy HuntCredit: PA:Press Association

His devastated close aide Conor Burns conceded: “He simply could not defend the position the Cabinet were bounced into on Friday”.

Another friend was more forthright — Theresa’s plan is turd “and he couldn’t summon the polish”.

The media scrum that had begun to gather outside BoJo’s grace and favour townhouse overlooking St James’s Park did not need to wait for the traditional exchange of letters to realise Boris was out.

His six police motorbike outriders abruptly departed his front door as his power drained away.

 One friend of Boris said: Theresa’s plan is turd 'and he couldn’t summon the polish'
27
One friend of Boris said: Theresa’s plan is turd 'and he couldn’t summon the polish'Credit: AP:Associated Press

Last night there was not much love lost from Tory MPs.

As his ­former aide Will Walden wondered: “Was his calculation that a rump of his party that already despise him wouldn’t thank him for keeping the peace anyway?”

But despite his mop of blond hair providing a totemic scalp for those who hate Brexit, only a fool would write him off again.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson was once the darling of the Conservative Party — stopped in the street for selfies, mobbed at party events and cheered wherever he went.

 Boris was once seen as the hero of Brexit
27
Boris was once seen as the hero of BrexitCredit: PA:Press Association

He was the hero of the Brexit revolution and his march on Downing Street seemed unstoppable.

He had proved to be that rare Tory who could win where others could not — including in London, where he became Mayor in 2008 and returned for a second City Hall term in 2012.

Many had written Boris off as a buffoon but even his sharpest critics were stunned by the success of the London Olympics.

His rivalry with David Cameron even got physical at one point, with the Mayor visiting No10 to negotiate London’s budget.

 Boris' rivalry with David Cameron even got physical at one point, with the Mayor visiting No10 to negotiate London’s budget
27
Boris' rivalry with David Cameron even got physical at one point, with the Mayor visiting No10 to negotiate London’s budgetCredit: PA:Press Association

BoJo wrestled a stunned PM to the ground in a tussle while trying to read a document.

Onlookers accused the pair of “acting like immature schoolboys”.

But crucially Boris got his additional funds for the capital.

One Cameron ally described Boris in City Hall as “a continual pain the arse, always asking for more and going missing when Downing Street needed some back-up”.

There was not much celebrating when he returned to the Commons in 2015.

 One Cameron ally described Boris in City Hall as 'a continual pain the arse'
27
One Cameron ally described Boris in City Hall as 'a continual pain the arse'Credit: afp or licensors

His popularity with the public was not shared by all there.

One colleague said: “He never really shone when he was a backbencher, and he was a terrible shadow minister.

“When he came back to Parliament he picked up where he left off.

"He never took the time to get to know MPs or do all the greasing you need to do to get to the top.”

Theresa May addresses the Commons following David Davis's and Boris Johnson's resignations from the Cabinet

Another had predicted at the time: “I think he will get bored very quickly.

"It’s one thing being Mayor of London but you forget that being an MP is about more than being the centre of attention.

"You have to pull your weight and trundle through the lobbies late at night.”

However, Boris had arrived in the middle of the Tory psychodrama over Europe and became what MPs called “the acceptable face of Brexit”.

 Boris became what MPs called the 'acceptable face of Brexit'
27
Boris became what MPs called the 'acceptable face of Brexit'Credit: Getty - Contributor

He toured Britain on his big red bus with new ally Michael Gove, promising to splash the cash saved on the NHS.

He upset President Obama by questioning in a Sun article if he hated Brits because he was “half-Kenyan”.

The comments caused an international storm.

Friends admit the Brexit victory came as “a hell of a shock for him”.

 The Brexit victory came as 'a hell of a shock' to Boris
27
The Brexit victory came as 'a hell of a shock' to BorisCredit: Getty Images - Getty

He turned to his next fight — taking on Theresa May for No10.

Boris blundered by failing to keep his Brexit coalition together to get him over the line.

However it was “campaign manager” Mr Gove who plunged the knife in, declaring he too was going for the top job on the morning Boris was due to launch his campaign.

BoJo pulled out of the race. Even his closest friends thought his political career was dead.

 Michael Gove knifed Boris in the back when he declared he was running for PM
27
Michael Gove knifed Boris in the back when he declared he was running for PMCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But Remainer Mrs May needed Brexiteers in her top team, and Boris was first on her list.

In July 2016, to huge surprise, he became Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary.

Friends point out Boris had been “coining it”, earning hundreds and thousands from his columns and books.

One said: “He had to take a pay cut at the Foreign Office, so at least now he can go back.”

 Working at the Foreign Office had meant a pay cut for Boris
27
Working at the Foreign Office had meant a pay cut for BorisCredit: Getty Images - Getty

It had been a gaffe-prone two years while outspoken BoJo, never known for his tact, tried to turn his hand to deft diplomacy.

An awkward summit with Turkish President Recep Erdogan prompted ridicule, as four months earlier Boris wrote a limerick which found a rude rhyme for “Ankara” and suggested the Premier was fond of goats.

Another low point was describing Africa as a “country” and joking about Libya being a great place for businesses to invest as long as they “clear the dead bodies” off the beach at Sirte.

Then came Whitehall turf wars with fellow Brexiteers Dr Fox over trade, and with Priti Patel over aid.

 A former Boris backer said it was a miracle how he had managed to 'p*** off' both Remainers and Brexiteers
27
A former Boris backer said it was a miracle how he had managed to 'p*** off' both Remainers and BrexiteersCredit: Getty - Contributor

Reports began to float that intelligence chiefs did not trust him.

The PM was forced to declare her Foreign Secretary was speaking out of turn after he accused the Saudis of playing proxy wars in the Middle East.

One of his most notorious gaffes, still being played out, saw him forced to apologise for suggesting a British mum jailed in Iran had been training journalists in Tehran — when she was actually on holiday.

He insisted he was misquoted, but it meant Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces extra years behind bars.

 Insiders said BoJo’s greatest regret will always be not staying in the race against Mrs May to make sure Brexit was done properly
27
Insiders said BoJo’s greatest regret will always be not staying in the race against Mrs May to make sure Brexit was done properlyCredit: EPA

Boris took another nosedive by flying out on a hastily organised trip to Iraq to avoid a vote on Heathrow expansion, having previously been its leading critic.

Even close allies admit “it was not a great look”.

Last night another former Boris backer said it was a miracle how in just two years he had managed to “p*** off” both Remainers and Brexiteers alike.

Insiders said BoJo’s greatest regret will always be not staying in the race against Mrs May to make sure Brexit was “done properly”.

Just last month he suggested Donald Trump would do a better Brexit negotiating job than Mrs May, saying “he’d go in bloody hard”.

A pal said: “He is haunted by the fact his chance may have come and gone when he could have won and been our Trump.”

The ups and clowns of Boris Johnson

2001

 Elected as MP for Henley-on-Thames with 8,500 majority
27
Elected as MP for Henley-on-Thames with 8,500 majorityCredit: PA:Press Association

2004

 Sacked as Shadow Minister after lying about affair with colleague
27
Sacked as Shadow Minister after lying about affair with colleagueCredit: Getty Images - Getty

2008

 Elected Mayor of London in a shock victory for Tories
27
Elected Mayor of London in a shock victory for ToriesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

2011

 Slammed for his initial response to the London riots - he was on holiday at the time
27
 Slammed for his initial response to the London riots - he was on holiday at the timeCredit: Getty Images - Getty

2012

 Re-elected for a second term in City Hall
27
Re-elected for a second term in City HallCredit: AP:Associated Press

2012

 Oversees a stunning London Olympics without a hitch - except getting stuck on a wire
27
Oversees a stunning London Olympics without a hitch - except getting stuck on a wireCredit: London News Pictures

2015

 Elected MP for Uxbridge - a return to the commons that set him on the path to No.10
27
Elected MP for Uxbridge - a return to the commons that set him on the path to No.10Credit: PA:Press Association

February 2016

 Declares vote to leave and leads the campaign to take Britain out of the EU
27
Declares vote to leave and leads the campaign to take Britain out of the EUCredit: Getty - Contributor

June 2016

 Wins stunning victory in Brexit referendum - and becomes favourite to become PM
27
 Wins stunning victory in Brexit referendum - and becomes favourite to become PMCredit: PA:Press Association

July 2016

 Knifed in the back by ally Michael Gove on day he launched campaign to replace David Cameron
27
Knifed in the back by ally Michael Gove on day he launched campaign to replace David CameronCredit: PA:Press Association

July 2016

 Ressurrected from the wilderness and made Foreign Secretary by Theresa May
27
Ressurrected from the wilderness and made Foreign Secretary by Theresa MayCredit: afp or licensors

2017

 Major gaffe sees Brit locked up for longer in Iran after Boris claims she was training with journalists
27
Major gaffe sees Brit locked up for longer in Iran after Boris claims she was training with journalistsCredit: AP:Associated Press

2018

 Outplayed by Theresa May over soft Brexit and resigns to fight her from the backbenches
27
Outplayed by Theresa May over soft Brexit and resigns to fight her from the backbenchesCredit: Andrew Parsons
Boris Johnson quits as Foreign Secretary following David Davis's resignation in wake of PM Theresa May's Brexit plan
Topics