Manchester greeted the news that after three years — beset by scandal and controversy — Boris Johnson is resigning as Prime Minister with a clear message: Good riddance.
The Manchester Evening News canvassed opinions of the public in the city centre on the morning that it was revealed that Boris would leave his post — once a successor is found. Of the people who gave their opinions, there was little by way of mourning the soon-to-be-ex-PM.
However, there was also a sense of apathy as to who would replace him. Not one member of the public could offer a name from Conservatives they would like to take over, and not much was thought of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
READ MORE : LIVE updates as Boris Johnson makes statement announcing he is resigning
“I was on the train and people were cheering,” Luke Williams, from Oldham, said. “We don’t really know what’s going to happen. Who is going to replace him?
“There’s no real option within the opposition of the Conservative Party. It’s a weakened government.” Ultimately, Mr Williams thought Boris handled the pandemic ‘poorly’.
Del Parsons, from Chorley, thought that the PM, a former Foreign Secretary, would only have a legacy around his personality. She said: “If he has one, for me, his legacy would be around his own personality. It’s always him over everything else.
“I have not come across anyone who thinks he is amazing. He is very polarising. It’s unfathomable. It’s a total disconnect.”
One man, who did not give his name, had one simple phrase to offer when asked for his reaction to the resignation. “Good riddance,” he said.
A group of four women from the north east and Yorkshire, two of whom had voted Conservative in the 2019 election, were pleased to see the PM go, but did not know who could take over. Suggestions of Rishi Sunak were batted away following a tax scandal which embroiled himself and his wife earlier this year.
Robert Michael Youel, from Leigh, did not think any MP was up to the top job. “The truth is we need to remove all of them. We should place honest people there. The ordinary person has not got any effect on anything.”
Annie Beverley, on her break on Deansgate, also felt like there was a lack of choice in Parliament. She said: “I do not think there’s a functioning opposition in this country.”
And Gary Watson, from Stoke but working in St Peter’s Square, thought that the former PM should take over the reins until a new leader is elected.
He explained: “Give Theresa May a chance. A couple of things she said have come back [to be true]. Let’s get everyone back in work.
“I cannot say a lot about his legacy. He has not done much for the North. It seems Parliamentary stuff stays down there. It gets no further outside the city of London.”
Finally, one man who had not heard the news this morning was Corsican Seymour Orsoni. He has lived in Manchester for the past six years.
He said: “What! From my perspective that is the best thing for England. It is going to be good for Europe too.”
Read all of our coverage on Boris' exit here.
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