Boris Johnson resigns from parliament

Britain’s former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned his seat in parliament on Friday, marking another dramatic career turn for one of the country’s most colorful and divisive politicians.

Mr Johnson is being investigated by a House of Commons committee investigating whether he lied to Parliament about Downing Street parties breaking lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Friday, after receiving a confidential copy of their findings, he accused the commission of expelling him.

The committee had the power to recommend a sanction that could have resulted in Mr Johnson being forced to hold an election to keep his constituency just outside London – a contest he might have lost.

Instead, the former prime minister pre-empted that prospect by quitting. His decision means there will now be a by-election in the constituency, but one he says he will not contest.