Boris Johnson: People in Wales react to resignation

The views of Conservatives can divide opinion in Wales, but there seem to be many people agreeing on one point.

It is time for Boris Johnson to go.

After almost three years and, under huge pressure from his MPs, he has resigned as Conservative leader, and will stay as prime minister until his replacement is chosen.

On the streets of Wales, some reacted with joy, including those saying he should have gone long ago, describing his last few months as a "car crash".

"I've just bought two fresh cream cakes which I'll have with a glass of bubbly this evening to celebrate," said Margaret in Bridgend.

"Sleaze, corruption, inadequate and self-serving. He's a lying toe rag."

Some were not as scathing, including Carmarthen's Keith Evans. He liked him at first.

He said: "He got Brexit done and Covid must have been hard. But the Pincher allegation… that was the icing on the cake, he had to go."

Mr Johnson assumed power in July 2019 and in December that year his party had a good general election performance in Wales - doubling their total of MPs from seven to 14.

Bridgend was one seat the party won from Labour, but it was difficult to find any positivity there on Thursday, even among Tory supporters.

Andrew Sinnott dubbed him "a buffoon".

He said: "I've been Conservative most of my life and my family the same, always voted Tory, but not any longer."

David Thomas said "hooray, hooray, I'm fed up of the lies", while Malcolm Hill, from North Connelly, added: "It's about time."

Cardiff University student Elliott Peters-Vanstone, 21, said: "It was coming, wasn't it. The vote of confidence was a bit questionable but he just about got through - and in the past - only just winning, that hasn't meant that your job's secure."

Project manager, Huw Williams, 27, from Cardiff said: "It's a bit of a relief he's finally gone, it was starting to feel reminiscent of Trump.

"I get why people voted for him, but he's just lost all trust in the last few months."

Nadila Hussein, 21, from Cardiff, believed it was shocking it had taken so long for Mr Johnson to go.

"It needed ministers to tell him that it's embarrassing now and it's his time to go," she said.

Tom Morgan, 23, from Pontypridd, said: "I'd prefer the other party to take over if I'm honest, but we'll leave that to the general election."

Meryl Morris, from Pontycymmer, said: "He's the biggest liar we've had in government."

Lifelong Conservative voter Fiona Graves, from Carmarthen, believed Mr Johnson had "no other option" but to resign.

"Politics has gone really shabby and really dirty," she said.

James Graham, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, said: "My first opinion on him was he was a happy-go-lucky kind of bloke and he could offer something different than other politicians in the past, but I believe he just went back on all that."

In the past couple of days, many Welsh Tories have resigned from government roles including Ynys Mon's Virginia Crosbie, Montgomeryshire's Craig Williams, Vale of Clwyd's James Davies and Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones.

On Wednesday, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said he had "no other option" but to go, with his likely replacement David Davies making clear he would not take the job.

On Thursday, Sir Robert Buckland was announced as Mr Hart's successor.

The Llanelli-born South Swindon MP was appointed as none of the 13 Welsh MPs were willing to accept the job.

In Swansea, even people who do not usually follow politics, such as Sophie Lee, 31, agreed "it's time for him to go".

She said: "It's one thing after another with him and it's setting a bad example so he should go, no point fighting it."

At the Hiatus clothes shop on the city's Brynymor Road, Amy Convery, 32, believed what had happened in the government had been a distraction from dealing with the real issues facing the country.

"It's always about their little politics in their little world, that comes first for them. It's just a bit sad really," she said.

Her colleague Jack Cotterill, 44, said his main thought was Mr Johnson's leadership had set "a terrible democratic example".

"It couldn't come at a worse time when you do need a very steady leader because we're in such [difficult] economic times," he added.

Sue Marshall, from Ely, Cardiff, said simply "wow", adding: "Good, because it has been a car crash for the last few months."

True-blue Tory Les Ash said: "I just hope with Boris going that the Tory party get themselves back together.

"You cannot afford to lie to the people."