Boris Johnson: Tributes and condemnation from Welsh politicians

The Conservative Senedd leader has paid tribute to Boris Johnson, who is to stand down as party leader after losing the support of his ministers and MPs.

Mr Johnson intends to remain as prime minister until the autumn, to allow a Tory leadership contest to take place.

Andrew RT Davies said his legacy was delivering "on the will of the British people" by ending Brexit "deadlock".

First Minister Mark Drakeford called Mr Johnson's resignation the "inevitable end" to a "flawed premiership".

Plaid Cymru accused Mr Johnson of unleashing "unprecedented damage on our devolution settlement".

On Wednesday night cabinet ministers, including the then Welsh secretary, urged Mr Johnson to quit.

Within hours Simon Hart joined a cabinet mutiny over his leadership which began on Tuesday, saying colleagues had done their utmost to "turn the ship around" but he no longer thought that was possible.

Downing Street announced his replacement will be the Llanelli-born former justice secretary and South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland.

Mr Hart was keeping his head down on Thursday morning.

"For the long list of journalists who are (very flatteringly) seeking my views on current events, I'm in west Wales today, doing constituency stuff and talking to my dogs - who seem reassuringly disinterested in what I've been up to," he tweeted.

The revolt was triggered by revelations about the prime minister's handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

Mr Drakeford said the high drama at Westminster was "an inevitable end to the flawed premiership of Boris Johnson, but the business isn't over".

"The prime minister needs to go now, and we need a fresh start, a clean slate, preferably through a general election, so that we can have the sort of decent, reliable government capable of focusing on the things that make the biggest difference in people's daily lives."

"We have been without a government in Westminster now for months, as the Conservative Party has turned in on itself."

Mr Davies, who has been a strong supporter of the prime minister, said on Wednesday "the end game" had been reached.

After news of Mr Johnson's resignation emerged, the Tory Senedd leader said: "Boris Johnson's legacy will always be that he ended the deadlock and got Brexit done, delivering on the will of the British people.

"As well as securing a historic victory in 2019, Boris ensured our return to freedom out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Regrettably, it has now become very difficult for him to deliver on the mandate he secured.

"I wish him, Carrie and the rest of his family all the best for the future and thank him for his service to our country."

Outgoing prime ministers are expected to stay in office until a successor is found.

Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire and former Welsh Secretary, said it was the right decision for Mr Johnson to resign, but was always sad to see a prime minister's time in office cut short.

He added that he would prefer to see a caretaker prime minister take the reins while a proper leadership contest takes place, saying a clear line needed to be drawn under this period of government.

Plaid Cymru accused Mr Johnson of unleashing "unprecedented damage on our devolution settlement".

In a joint statement, party leader Adam Price and Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said: "Powers have been rolled back, legislation has been unilaterally scrapped, and conventions have been relentlessly ignored."

They called for candidates to take over as Tory leader to "promise a fundamental rethink of the way Westminster interacts with Welsh devolution".

"They could promise to have respect for our institutions and our requests for further devolved powers.

"Given their track record, we already know they won't."