Boris Johnson's bombshell exit from Parliament leaves UK politics reeling

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson left chaos in his wake Saturday after quitting Parliament with a blast at fellow lawmakers he accused of ousting him in a "witch hunt."

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson left chaos in his wake Saturday after quitting Parliament with a blast at fellow lawmakers he accused of ousting him in a "witch hunt."

As opponents jeered, the Conservative government absorbed the shock of yet another Johnson earthquake, while a band of loyal supporters insisted Britain's divisive ex-leader could still make a comeback. Two Johnson allies joined him in quitting the House of Commons, piling pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Less than a year after he was forced out as prime minister by his own Conservative Party, Johnson unexpectedly stepped down as a lawmaker late Friday -- "at least for now," he said in a self-justifying resignation statement.

Johnson quit after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament over "partygate," a series of rule-breaking gatherings in the prime minister's office during the coronavirus pandemic. Johnson was among scores of people fined by police over late-night soirees, boozy parties and "wine time Fridays" that broke restrictions the government had imposed on the country.

Johnson has acknowledged misleading Parliament when he assured lawmakers that no rules had been broken, but he said he didn't do so deliberately, genuinely believing the gatherings were legitimate work events.

A standards committee investigating him appears to see things differently. Johnson quit after receiving the report of the Privileges Committee, which has not yet been made public. Johnson faced suspension from the House of Commons if the committee found he had lied deliberately.

Johnson, 58, called the committee "a kangaroo court" that was determined to "drive me out of Parliament."