Embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally thrown in the towel and resigned from office - leaving a legacy that "would shame anyone", says one Renfrewshire politician.
The beleaguered UK premier had his hand forced after his Cabinet withdrew support.
By this morning, he had received some 59 resignations from party faithful, in a move sparked by the departure of Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Wednesday night and followed up by that of controversial Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
The final straw for Boris Johnson's administration came when he failed to take decisive action over now suspended groping row MP, Chris Pincher.
He is rumoured to have known about the Staffordshire politician's unsuitability following a 2019 investigation into allegations over his conduct before he was appointed as Deputy Chief Whip.
News of his resignation has met with widespread support from Renfrewshire's politicians.
Westminster-based Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands blasted Johnson's scandal-ridden term of office, saying: "I'm pleased that Boris Johnson has bowed to the inevitable. The manner in which he stood down from office matched his entire reign as Prime Minister - self-centred and isolated, holed up in his bunker and removed from the reality of the world around him.
"He leaves behind a legacy that would shame anyone, with households seeing living standards plummet, foodbank use soaring, public services asset-stripped and democracy denied to millions in Scotland."
The SNP man added: "He will enter the history books as the man who dragged Scotland out of the EU against our will, who shovelled billions out the door in corrupt contracts in the middle of the biggest public health crisis of our lifetimes, systematically attacked the poorest and most vulnerable in society, threatened peace in Northern Ireland, debased even the low standards of governance at Westminster and presided over a cabinet of cronies and Z-listers.
"Whoever takes over from him inherits a government riven by splits and in-fighting and a country that needs real and immediate action to tackle the cost of living crisis that is hammering millions of households every day."
And he said Johnson's government shows exactly why "Scotland needs to escape the dysfunction and extremism that is the hallmark of Westminster government".
Boris Johnson was already wounded after the Partygate scandal left voters incensed by the news that Downing Street hosted parties as the rest of the nation suffered in Coronavirus lockdowns.
Westminster-based SNP MP Mhairi Black said Johnson's reign has sparked "complete chaos" for the country.
Mhairi, who represents Paisley and Renfrewshire South at Westminster, said: "Boris Johnson should have resigned a long time ago; he broke the law. He tore up the social contract we all live by right in front of our faces. His conservative colleagues have seen the writing on the wall as the party plummets in the polls and have decided now is the time to stab Johnson in the back to save their own skin.
“Boris Johnson has provided nothing but complete chaos as Prime Minister. Good riddance to him. However, no matter which Tory replaces Boris Johnson in number 10 it won’t wash in Scotland. We have a mandate for an independence referendum, not Boris or any other Prime Minister should deny the democratic will of the people of Scotland."
Labour's Neil Bibby said the country is in need of a "fresh start".
The West Scotland MSP said: "Finally Boris Johnson has been forced from office after almost every single one of his colleagues realised he was unfit to lead the country.
"That’s a conclusion many of us reached a long, long time ago."
Paisley-based Neil, added: "The race is now on to replace him, but regardless of who does that they will lack any sense of integrity given that they ever allowed this man to be Prime Minister.
"More than that, the idea that Boris Johnson will be allowed to stay as a caretaker Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen is completely unbelievable. If the Tories don’t want him to be leader, why should the country have to suffer him any longer? What angers me most about all of this is that right now people are really struggling. We are experiencing a cost of living crisis that they Tories aren’t just failing on, they are now actively ignoring.
"Our country needs a fresh start. We don’t need a new Tory Prime Minister. We need a General Election, and we need a Labour Government.”
Tories are currently divided over Mr Johnson's intent to remain as a "caretaker" despite his resignation until the party can appoint a new leader in October.
Mr Johnson appeared in Downing Street to deliver his resignation just minutes ago, saying he was "sad" to be "giving up the best job in the world" but admitted "them's the breaks".
He said: "It's clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new Prime Minister and I've agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the Chairman of our backbench MPs that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now."
He paid tribute to the NHS and the British public, saying: "Your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on."
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries remained loyal to ailing PM Boris.
Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay said a new PM could now focus on getting to grips with the cost of living crisis.
The West Scotland politician said: "A new prime minister can ensure that focus remains on post-pandemic recovery, helping families with the global cost of living crisis and supporting the people of Ukraine. That's what Nicola Sturgeon's incompetent SNP government should also be doing, not plotting another damaging and unwanted referendum next year."
