Shock exit from Boris!

Tegan has it right. It was Cameron wot dun it, by resigning before invoking Article 50 he ensured the next leader will have to carry the can with impossible negotiations. So Boris backs out, no surprise. Actually, I think Teresa May as a Remain supporter, is the only possible leader, but it isn't my party, so what do I know? :-)

Heseltine has just ripped into Boris:

Lord Heseltine told BBC Radio Five Live: "I have never seen anything like it. He's ripped the Tory party apart, he has created the greatest constitutional crisis in peacetime in my life.

"He's knocked billions off his value of the savings of the British people. He's like a general who marches his army to the sound of the guns and the moment he sees the battleground he abandons it.

"I have never seen anything like it and he must be answerable for the consequences. But the pain of it will be felt by all of us and, if it doesn't get resolved shortly, by a generation yet to come."

too kind by half

Pity it wasn't only £3 like the Labour Party membership!

Ha ha Kitty so did we, but now it's to keep Gove out.

I agree roses. Fingers crossed for Mrs May and a statesman like team to back her. I also hope that Labour can sort themselves out and go back to being an effective opposition.

Why do I keep thinking of the last scene from Black Adder when they all went over the top?

I think that Boris did hope to be chosen as the next PM, but the way things have worked out he found that he did not have enough backing, as you need a certain percent of MP's behind you.I think that Theresa May will be chosen, and in my opinion, a good choice.Gove and Boris will be in the shadow cabinet [unless Boris leaves politics].Now, all we need is for Corbyn to resign and somebody more like a Leader take over, and we are all set.

Ginny42 we can only imagine your 'gnaar' of astonishment. Why do dentists do that?!

Well!! DH and I joined the Tory Party so we could vote for anyone but Boris - he must have heard.

Question Time should be lively tonight!

The dentist told me this news when I had my mouth full of stuff, and I could only respond with my eyes!

Was it the plan from the start? Let BJ seem to be out in front, then overtake on the inside. I'm pleased because I believe BJ would have been an embarrassment. I actually agree with Mr Gove, which is rare. BJ doesn't have the skills to pull everyone together and work as a team. He says the weirdest things sometimes and he's a proven liar.

OH told me news in car. Replied 'conspiracy theory' he went on to say Boris made an unusually serious and creditable speech just after the results. I replied 'Gove wrote it'.

It was Gove who said we shouldn't listen to experts, then he said we need to line up experts to advise on Brexit!!. I listened to Boris' speech, it was obviously written before today to declare his intention of running, then he just tagged the punch line, "but its not me.". at the end. Et tu Brute springs to mind, surprised Boris didn't use that line. All very Shakespearean.

Interesting that you say it is "democracy at work" Bags. I was online to my brother in the US yesterday and he asked what we were thinking of, leaving the EU with only 37.4% voting in favour. He later, in reply to a FB post said:

As I wrote to you this morning, the 52:48 is somewhat meaningless in a number of contexts, though it provides an answer. I saw that the difference was 1.2 m votes. which means that approx 30m voted; the 52% represent 37.4% of those eligible to vote; they represent 28.9% of the population. So, given the democratic process, less than 30% of the population have taken the country in a new direction. Very interesting. The figures are approximate, but are within statistical error!!!!

There are suspicions across Westminster that George Osborne and David Cameron's ambitions to stop Boris Johnson are behind this.

It is good that Boris worked out that he is not up to the job. As for Gove - no thank you! I am still angry that DC stepped down when he had said all along that whatever happened he would stay and provide continuity. Rat!

But let us not dismiss Theresa May - I feel able to take her seriously, when Gove is just a joke. When I look at what he did to education - just pushing through made-up ideas with no evidence behind them. We can't have that at the top.

Perhaps he is thinking of standing as a candidate to lead the labour party. they need a leader with presence, I won't say charisma, because that is not exactly what Boris has. Labour probably deserve him.

Gove always looks like a 1950's schoolboy who needs to grow into his uniform.

Actually it's probably for the best. Can't stand Gove but feel he might just be the better man to get things done.

I reckon he got cold feet at the last moment. Daft bugger.

he really enjoyed making his "shock announcement" And I swear he momentarily forgot Dave's surname.

The pound bouncing back has been on/in the news everywhere since yesterday. Fingers crossed it settles down at a good level. We need share values to rise again too so my pension fund goes back to where it was.

Agree about Sarah Vine. Definitely wants to be Queen Bee.

Yes, I noticed, bags. Most people on here would prefer to ignore it though...

Oh no!!!

It would have been - such fun!

So much for his battle cry of 'take back control'.

Think you might be spot on there, tegan!