Boris Johnson resigns live: Tories braced for by-election as former PM quits with narcissistic rant

Boris Johnson claimed he was the victim of a witch-hunt as he announced he was resigning as an MP, accusing a Commons investigation into whether he misled parliament over Partygate of attempting to drive him out.

The former prime minister compared the Privileges Committee probe to a kangaroo court as he quit.

Calling for the committees investigation to be ended, he said he believed it was determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament.

But some saw his wording as a hint he would make a comeback and mount a leadership challenge to Rishi Sunak, at whom he also took a swipe.