FORMER Tory leadership candidate Rory Stewart will step down from the Cabinet after it was announced Boris Johnson would become the next Prime Minister.
The Secretary of State for International Development made the announcement on Twitter in a post which certainly caught the attention of social media users.
Congratulations @BorisJohnson on becoming Leader. Honour to serve in turn as Minister of Environment @DefraGovUK, Mid East +Asia @DFID_UK, Africa @FCO, Prisons @MoJGovUK + then Development Secretary in Cabinet +NSC. Backbench tomorrow serving Cumbria. Thank you all. More walking! pic.twitter.com/2PVLTaGXXR
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) July 23, 2019
Johnson will be appointed Prime Minister after he defeated Jeremy Hunt in a vote by 160,000 Tory members, taking 92,153 of cast ballots. Hunt took 46,656 of the votes.
The incoming premier has been left in no doubt about the opposition he will face from his own benches if he attempts to force through a no-deal Brexit.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon's response to Boris Johnson leadership victory
Sir Alan Duncan quit as a Foreign Office minister on Monday and Anne Milton as education minister on Tuesday, rather than serve under Johnson.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced he will do likewise.
Cabinet minister David Gauke is also expected to join them on the backbenches after the leadership change.
Twitter users, as well as pondering the potentially disastrous ramifications for Johnson, reacted to Stewart's announcement by poking fun at his bizarre tweet.
And the prize for most poignant photo accompanying a resignation from the Cabinet tweet goes to... https://t.co/jqzioO1fGS
— Sarah Morris (@Sarah_W_Morris) July 23, 2019
Hey horses, why the long face?
— Gullible Seagull 🍟🦢🍟 (@GullibleGull) July 23, 2019
"Boris is PM."
Fair point. https://t.co/Y4mX98kH7d
Rory Stewart going is no shock but I was surprised to see him leak the cover for his new EP "fell handed and hoarse" as the dub plate has been a staple of my chill DJ sets for a while. https://t.co/emfgIcnbOs
— crossestman (@crossestman) July 23, 2019
It looks like he's saying all this to the two bemused ponies https://t.co/Cym3iK3eui
— Stuart Millar (@stuartmillar159) July 23, 2019
"Neigh to Boris," says Rory. "Integrity's the mane thing. Besides, he won't be PM furlong." https://t.co/Ycj9AMR0jb
— Tom King (@tallgeekychap) July 23, 2019
Is this an outtake from Lord of the Rings? https://t.co/GLW6kTOFIf
— Rachel Cunliffe (@RMCunliffe) July 23, 2019
Rory and the Nayyyy..sayers. Great name for a band. https://t.co/CRuAmXNjIq
— Kinky Brexit EX-TORY (permanently) (@qiauto) July 23, 2019
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