British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigns: Downing St

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LONDON, July 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
resigned on Monday in a major blow for Prime Minister Theresa May, hours
after her Brexit minister stepped down over her plans for leaving the EU.

“This afternoon, the Prime Minister accepted the resignation of Boris
Johnson as Foreign Secretary,” May’s Downing Street office said in a
statement.

“His replacement will be announced shortly. The prime minister thanks Boris
for his work,” the statement said.

In private, Johnson had reportedly criticised May’s plan for retaining
strong economic ties to the EU even after Brexit, referring to the plan as
“polishing a turd”.

Since cabinet approval for the plan on Friday, however, he had refrained
from public comment.

He was due to co-host a summit on the Western Balkans in London on Monday
but did not show up.

Germany’s junior foreign minister Michael Roth tweeted: “We’re still
waiting for our host”.