Pressure was growing on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday to act more quickly and leave office faster than his planned exit in October.
Some Conservative MPs want him to leave office before a new Tory leader and prime minister is elected.
And opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would use a House of Commons motion to try to remove Mr Johnson if he refuses to hand over the reins to a caretaker other than himself.
Mr Johnson, who wants to stay in office for three months while the next party leader and prime minister is elected, has promised to not make major policy changes or fiscal decisions while in the caretaker role.
He chaired a meeting of his new Cabinet at Number 10 Downing Street hours after announcing his resignation as Conservative Party leader.
Starting his tenure as caretaker prime minister until a replacement is found, Mr Johnson welcomed his reshuffled team to the Cabinet Office on Thursday afternoon to set out his agenda.
“I want you to know that from now until my successor is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on," he said in a later tweet.
After 59 resignations from his government, including two Cabinet ministers, he appointed new figures to replace the disaffected MPs.
'Unwise' for Johnson to remain in No 10
Former Tory leader Sir John Major warned it was “unwise” for Mr Johnson to remain in office until a successor is chosen.
Sir John called on the powerful 1992 Committee of backbench Tory MPs to appoint an acting prime minister or streamline the election process to elect a new leader “solely by MPs”, and not by all party members.
“The proposal for the prime minister to remain in office for up to three months, having lost the support of his Cabinet, his government and his parliamentary party, is unwise and may be unsustainable,” he wrote in his letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1992 Committee.
“For the overall wellbeing of the country, Mr Johnson should not remain in Downing Street — when he is unable to command the confidence of the House of Commons — for any longer than necessary to effect the smooth transition of government.”
Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said he spoke to Sir Graham and urged him to shorten the process to replace Mr Johnson.
"I think we will have two candidates out of the parliamentary party to present the membership before recess," Mr Bridgen said. "And that will be no more than three or four weeks.
"So by the end of August we will have a new leader of the Conservative Party. So Boris Johnson's estimate that he'll still be Prime Minister in October is wildly inaccurate."
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said it would be “ludicrous” for Mr Johnson to stay on until a new leader has been chosen by the Conservatives, and added his voice to growing calls for a change of government.
“Johnson may have gone but the stain on the Conservative Party can't be removed that easily,” Sir Ed tweeted. “This cruel, callous government must go.”
Who is in Boris Johnson’s new Cabinet?
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Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, replacing Rishi Sunak. AFP -
Mr Zahawi, 55, inherits an economy that is heading for a sharp slowdown or even a recession, and will face immediate pressure to do more to help struggling taxpayers. PA -
Mr Zahawi was previously education secretary and was replaced by Michelle Donelan. PA -
Mr Zahawi with Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa during a visit to Imperial College London in June. PA -
Mr Zahawi answers questions from pupils during a visit to Manor Park Primary School in Sutton in May. PA -
Mr Zahawi makes a statement in the House of Commons in March. PA -
Mr Zahawi attends the Cop26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. Getty Images -
Mr Zahawi holds a media briefing on the coronavirus pandemic at Downing Street in June 2021. Mr Zahawi was appointed minister in charge of the Covid-19 vaccine rollouts in 2020. Getty Images -
Conservative London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey and Mr Zahawi on the final day of local election campaigning in May 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Zahawi visits the Cullimore independent community chemist in Edgware in January last year after it became the first pharmacy in London to offer the Covid-19 vaccination. Getty Images -
Mr Zahawi stands next to Carrie Symonds at the 2019 Conservative Party conference in Manchester. Getty Images -
Former prime minister David Cameron and Mr Zahawi at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham in 2010. Getty Images
Nadhim Zahawi, Chancellor
The Iraqi-born MP was promoted from education secretary to Chancellor after Rishi Sunak quit on Tuesday.
Mr Zahawi now holds the second most powerful office in the UK and is expected to be one of the runners in the Conservative leadership race.
On Thursday, just a day after the prime minister handed him the top job, Mr Zahawi publicly called on Mr Johnson to step down.
Steven Barclay, Health Secretary
Mr Johnson on Wednesday appointed Steve Barclay Health Secretary after Sajid Javid’s resignation on Tuesday evening, which prompted the floodgates to open.
Shailesh Vara, Northern Ireland Secretary
The MP who was born in Uganda to Indian parents replaces Brandon Lewis, who stepped down on Wednesday.
Kit Malthouse, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The former policing minister becomes the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office after the prime minister. He succeeds Mr Barclay.
James Cleverly, Education Secretary
The post was left vacant after Mr Zahawi was promoted to chancellor. Michelle Donelan was appointed education secretary on Wednesday before quitting on Thursday.
Mr Cleverly previously served as chairman of the Conservative Party and minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa, and North America.
Over the past few months he served as minister for Europe and North America.
Sir Robert Buckland, Wales Secretary
He replaces Simon Hart, who in stepping down told Mr Johnson that there was “no other option left” and his efforts to turn his government in the right direction had “passed the point where this is possible”.
Sir Robert suggested the new Cabinet would not get much done during the “caretaker period” and said it was “crucial” for there to be enough people carrying out the functions of government amid the wait for a new leader.
He said Mr Johnson would have limited scope to introduce fresh policies in the weeks ahead, but defended his decision to take a position in the new-look caretaker Cabinet, stressing he felt the need to “help and serve”.
Sir Robert, a former Lord Chancellor, accepted the offer of a Cabinet post just hours after questioning Mr Johnson’s integrity and saying he “can no longer go on”.
Greg Clark, Levelling Up Secretary
The appointment came after Mr Johnson sacked Michael Gove on Wednesday after asking him to resign.
Mr Clark, a former business secretary, went on the record to say he had voted to remove Mr Johnson in the no-confidence vote last month, which the prime minister passed but lost the support of 41 per cent of his MPs.
Shortly after his appointment, Mr Clark tweeted: “We have a duty to ensure that the country has a functioning government in the weeks ahead.
“Having been secretary of state at the communities department before, I will do my best to provide stability, good governance and accountability to Parliament at this important time.”
He served in the Cabinet under Theresa May, and David Cameron as communities secretary and then business secretary.
Mr Clark's appointment suggested Mr Johnson was reaching out to different wings of the Tory party.
Adam Stephenson, minister without portfolio who will attend Cabinet
“I have loyally supported our last three prime ministers and our party in delivering for our country," Mr Stephenson tweeted.
"Now that Boris Johnson has decided to resign we must ensure a smooth transition so we may continue to do so."
Mr Stephenson previously served as a minister of state at the Department for Transport and a minister in the Foreign Office.
Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary
Ms Truss, who is tipped to compete in the Tory leadership contest, keeps her position as Foreign Secretary after remaining loyal to Mr Johnson.
After he announced his resignation, Ms Truss tweeted: “The PM has made the right decision. The government under Boris's leadership had many achievements — delivering Brexit, vaccines and backing Ukraine.
"We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found.”
Suella Braverman, Attorney General
Her role did not change in the reshuffle.
Ben Wallace, Defence Secretary
Mr Wallace remains in his post, saying he and a number of others “have an obligation to keep this country safe, no matter who is PM”.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary
Mr Shapps remains in his role.
Priti Patel, Home Secretary
There was no change for Ms Patel, a long-time ally of the prime minister.
Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary
Ms Dorries retains her portfolio.
Boris Johnson through the years — in pictures
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Boris Johnson has had an eventful time during his life in politics and journalism. Here, 'The National' looks back at his life in pictures. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson attends the coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in May. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson leaves his home to attend a televised evidence session in March in front of the Commons Privileges Committee. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson listening to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy address parliamentarians in Westminster Hall in February. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and Carrie Johnson arrive at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson he announces his resignation as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson at a press conference in response to the publication of the Sue Gray report into Partygate at Downing Street in May 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson reads the long-awaited report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into the Downing Street party scandal, in his Downing Street office in May 2022. Photo: Downing Street -
Mr Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in central Kyiv in April 2022. The British prime minister paid an unannounced visit to Kyiv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. AFP -
Mr Johnson watches an early morning police raid on a home in Liverpool as part of an operation to thwart drug dealing, in December, 2021. Getty Images -
The prime minister battles with his umbrella while with Prince Charles at The National Memorial Arboretum in July 2021, in Stafford, England. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and his wife before the Uefa European Championship final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium, London, in July last year. Getty Images -
The British prime minister with US President Joe Biden, European Council President Charles Michel, former Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during the G7 Summit in Cornwall, in June 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson with his wife Carrie in the garden of 10 Downing Street after their wedding at Westminster Cathedral, in May last year. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson visits Hartlepool after Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won a parliamentary by-election in May, 2021. Getty Images -
The prime minister after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at St Thomas' Hospital in London in March, 2021. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson after signing a Brexit trade deal with the EU in December 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson examines a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 candidate vaccine, at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Wrexham, Wales, in November 2020. Getty -
Mr Johnson demonstrating the two-metre distancing rule during his visit to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Upminster, East London, in August 2020. PA -
In this photo, published alongside the Sue Gray report into the Partygate affair, Mr Johnson is seen at a gathering in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street on his birthday in June, 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and former chancellor Rishi Sunak use hand sanitiser during a visit to the Pizza Pilgrims restaurant in June 2020, in east London, to see how they are getting their business ready to reopen as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were lifted in England. PA -
Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds applaud key workers outside 10 Downing Street in May 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson in the Cabinet Room observing a minute's silence in April 2020 in a tribute to the health staff and key workers who died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA -
Boris Johnson appears on monitors for a meeting in March 2020. The prime minister chaired morning meetings on the coronavirus remotely from Number 11 Downing Street, while self-isolating after testing positive for the virus. Reuters -
Members of a family listen as BMr ris Johnson makes a televised address to the nation from 10 Downing Street in March 2020, where he outlined the latest instructions to stay at home to help contain the Covid-19 outbreak. AFP -
Mr Johnson speaks to British troops stationed in Estonia during a one-day visit to the Baltic country in December 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson and Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory in December 2019. Getty -
Boris Johnson is greeted by staff at 10 Downing Street after meeting Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to form a new government in December 2012. PA -
Former US president Donald Trump and Mr Johnson arrive for a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in August 2019 in Biarritz, France. Getty -
The queen welcomes Mr Johnson as the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, during an audience in July 2019. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson, then Britain's foreign secretary, stands in front of St Basil's Cathedral during a visit to Moscow's Red Square in December 2017. Getty -
Mr Johnson collides with a child during a Street Rugby tournament in Tokyo in 2015, held to mark Japan hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup -
As mayor of London Mr Johnson competes in a tug-of-war in October 2015. Getty Images -
The Olympic Flag is passed from Mr Johnson to IOC President Jacques Rogge during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Getty Images -
Mayor of London Boris Johnson with Prime Minister David Cameron during the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square, in August 2012. PA -
Boris Johnson gets stuck on a zip-line during a BT London Live event in Victoria Park in August 2012. Getty -
Mr Johnson and Lord Sebastian Coe cheer as a giant set of Olympic rings is displayed from Tower Bridge in June 2012, Getty Images -
Mr Johnson gestures attends a Harry Potter studio tour of Diagon Alley, at the Warner Brother Studios, London, in December 2011. AP Photo -
Mr Johnson at the launch of London's first cycle hire scheme in July 2010. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson with artists' impressions of the design for London's new Routemaster bus in May 2010. Getty Images -
The candidates to be mayor of London; Labour's Ken Livingstone, Conservative Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick, being questioned on BBC's 'Newsnight' programme in April 2008. Getty Images -
Boris Johnson on the North Pier in Blackpool during the Conservative Party conference there in October 2005. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson at his desk in 2000 while he was a journalist for 'The Telegraph'. Getty Images -
Mr Johnson when he was president of the Oxford Union society speaking to the Greek minister for culture Melina Mercouri when she addressed the union. Reuters -
Boris Johnson in September 1979, at Eton School. Shutterstock
