WorldBoris Johnson 'could go to jail if he refuses to delay Brexit'

Boris Johnson said he would not follow the legislation when it becomes law

Lord MacDonald told Sky News 'the law should be followed'

MPs 'checked with EU chiefs over Brexit delay'

With the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) experiencing various political complications, having now been delayed up to October 31, 2019, the country has seen increasing public discontent from both Leave and Remain supporters alike. Amidst a general air of uncertainty and ongoing frustration at the government's inability to mobilize a smooth withdrawal from the European bloc, demonstrators on both sides of the political spectrum have taken to the streets to give voice to their discontent. We look at some of the recent protests in pictures.

What’s Next for Brexit? Six Possible Outcomes

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament next month has brought a fresh wave of consternation and confusion to Britain’s already chaotic efforts to leave the European Union , while still leaving wide open the question of where Britain will end up on Oct. 31., the day the country is scheduled to leave the bloc. Mr. Johnson says he would rather Britain leave with a reworked Brexit deal but, failing that, it would be out the door anyway. His opponents have sworn to remove any possibility of leaving without a deal, which they say would be economically calamitous.

Boris Johnson is warned he could face jail if he fails to comply with a new law designed to stop the UK leaving the EU with no deal. MPs, including Tories expelled from the party, are preparing legal action in case the PM refuses to seek a delay to Brexit .

Boris Johnson could go to prison if he ignores a bill requiring him to request a Brexit delay , according to a former director of public prosecutions. Ken Macdonald told Sky News on Saturday that the prime minister could face serious consequences if he refuses to ask Brussels for a Brexit

(Pictured) Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on Aug. 28 in London, England.

An anti-Brexit protestor releases colored smoke outside the Houses of Parliament in London, England on Aug. 28.

Protestors from the European Movement in Scotland hold a walking vigil on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland on Aug. 28.

Pro-Brexit protesters at the Churchill statue in Westminster Square in London, England on Aug. 31.

An anti-Brexit protester reacts during a protest outside Downing Street in London, England on Aug. 28.

Brexit protesters outside Westminster in London, England on Aug. 28.

A pro-Brexit activist, with legs covered in sun cream on a scorching day in London, England, holds a 'We Voted Leave' board outside the Houses of Parliament on July 24.

A young British anti-Brexit protester advises his fellow supporters to disobey police attempts to remove them from Parliament Square in London, England on Aug. 28.

Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on Aug. 28 in London, England.

Pro-Brexit supporters walk through London, England on Aug. 29.

A demonstrator waves an EU flag and Union Jack in front of a line of police officers outside Downing Street in London, England on Aug. 28.

A pro-Brexit campaigner wears the Union flag colours and holds placards as he demonstrates near the Houses of Parliament in central London, England on April 3.

Why a ‘Brexit Election’ Will Make Things Worse

A national vote in the run-up to Britain’s deadline to withdraw from the European Union will be dangerous.

Topline: Brexit is back in the courts today, as Scottish judges hear arguments as to whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be sent to jail if he takes He has also previously said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than delay Brexit further. The case will ultimately determine the extent to which

He yesterday insisted he would never delay Brexit , despite legislation blocking a No Deal. Boris Johnson has vowed to take Britain out of the EU by October 31 - and faces going to prison if he does not respect legislation passed by the Lords this weekCredit: PA:Press Association.

Pro-EU demonstrators hold placards and EU flags as they protest outside the Houses of Parliament on April 10 in London, England.

People walk past EU and Union flags outside the Houses of Parliament in London, England on April 1.

British politician Nigel Farage takes the stage to speak at a rally at Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London on March 29.

Anti-Brexit supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London, England on April 1.

A pro-Brexit protester holds a sign at a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament on March 29.

A young girl joins the border Brexit protest on the Irish border, on the Old Dublin Road, in Carrickcarnon, Ireland on March 30.

A far-right protester is detained by police during a pro-Brexit demonstration near the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on March 29.

It's Jacob Reezzzzz-Mogg! Tory Brexiteer shuts his eyes and lounges on the Commons green benches during key debate

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg was seen reclining on the front bench, at times with his eyes closed, as the Commons discussed plans to pass legislation which would stop No Deal Brexit.

Boris Johnson could be jailed if he refuses to delay Brexit in the face of court action, the former director of public prosecutions has claimed. The Prime Minister has indicated he would rather defy the law than ask for another delay to leaving the European Union.

A Scottish judge could force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to request a Brexit extension or face a fine or imprisonment. The petitioners want the Scottish judges to force the prime minister to request the extension and consider fining or imprisoning Boris Johnson if he refuses .

Demonstrators participate in a Border Communities Against Brexit (BCAB) protest as part of their ongoing campaign against the return of a border to the island of Ireland March 30.

A man dressed as Darth Vader poses with a Union Jack near a pro-Brexit demonstration at Parliament Square in London on March 29.

A young girl waves the European Flag in Green Park, London, during the Put It To The People March on March 23.

People hold up placards and European Union flags as they pass Trafalgar Square on a march and rally organised by the pro-European People's Vote campaign for a second EU referendum in central London on March 23.

Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage takes part in the "March to Leave" walk in Mansfield, England, on March 23.

A woman taking a picture of the figure of Theresa May in Trafalgar Square, London, during the Put It To The People March on March 23.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage addresses marchers from the top of a bus at the start of the 'March to Leave' walk from the village of Linby to Beeston, Nottinghamshire on March 23 in Mansfield.

EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march in central London on March 23.

People gather in Linby for the 'March to Leave' walk on March 23.

Shane Warne hammered after offering his thoughts on Brexit

"Boris is good, everyone's great, just get on with it."

EU supporters participate in the 'People's Vote' march in central London, England on March 23.

Pro-Brexit marchers in the village of Linby on March 23.

People gather to take part in the 'Put It To The People' march on March 23 in London, England.

'March to Leave' protesters set off from Linby village in Nottinghamshire towards London, England. The 14-day march began in Sunderland on March 16 and will end in the capital on March 29, where a mass rally will take place on Parliament Square.

Protesters take part in the 'Put It To The People' march on Whitehall on March 23 in London, England.

A protester carrrying flags walks past the Union (L) and EU flags of anti-Brexit activists near the Houses of Parliament in London on March 18.

Nigel Farage reacts as he arrives at the end of the first leg of the March to Leave campaign on March 16 in Hartlepool, England.

An anti-Brexit protester holds an EU flag as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 14 as MPs debate a motion on whether to seek a delay to Britain's exit from the EU.

Boris Johnson takes a wrecking ball to government and gets hit himself

The new British prime minister goes one better than President Trump as the disrupter-in-chief.

Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters hold flags as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 14 as members debate a motion on whether to seek a delay to Britain's exit from the EU.

Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 13.

Pro-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 13.

Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 12.

Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest in the rain ahead of the meaningful vote in Parliament in London on March 12.

Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest in the rain ahead of the meaningful vote in Parliament in London on March 12.

Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray stands holding placards draped in a composite if the EU and Union flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 4.

Pro-Brexit activists march outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on Feb. 27.

An anti-Brexit activist from the pressure group Our Future, Our Choice (OFOC) signs the campaign bus before a photocall in central London on Feb. 27.

An anti-Brexit protester wearing a European Union flag cap, flies European and Union flags outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Feb. 21.

A remain in the European Union supporter and member of the "Our Future, Our Choice" (OFOC) young people against Brexit organisation campaigning for a People's Vote second referendum on Britain's EU membership poses for photographs after taking part in a protest against a blindfold Brexit on Parliament Square opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, England on Feb. 14.

Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament on Feb. 14.

An anti-Brexit protester wearing a European Union flag cap demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Feb. 12.

A man stands near a 'Leave Means Leave' banner as pro-Brexit activists demonstrate outside of the Houses of Parliament in central London on Feb. 14.

Caroline Lucas MP speaks during an anti-Brexit protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Feb. 13.

Pro-Brexit activists hold placards and wave Union flags as they demonstrate outside of the Houses of Parliament in London on Jan. 29.

A pro-Brexit activist (L) holding a placard and wearing a union flag-themed shirt talks with an anti-Brexit demonstrator holding an EU flagas they protest near the Houses of Parliament in London on Jan. 29.

The Border Communities Against Brexit group hold an anti-Brexit protest on Jan. 26 in Louth, Ireland.

Born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson on June 19, 1964, he is the eldest son of Stanley Johnson, a British politician who was the Conservative MEP for Wight & Hampshire East from 1979 to 1984.

‘The Trumpization of U.K. politics’: Boris Johnson is busting political norms

His tactics have repeatedly defied tradition and precedent in a society that treasures yesterday as a guide for tomorrow. Related: Boris Johnson: Career in pictures 1/23 SLIDES © Neville Elder/Corbis via Getty Images Born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson on June 19, 1964, he is the eldest son of Stanley Johnson, a British politician who was the Conservative MEP for Wight & Hampshire East from 1979 to 1984. Boris was schooled at Eton College, where he won a scholarship, and later at Balliol College, Oxford.

Boris was schooled at Eton College, where he won a scholarship, and later at Balliol College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he was friends with David Cameron, who went on to become Britain’s Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016. He was also the president of the Oxford Union – a position previously held by former Prime Minister Edward Heath (1916-2005) and former Conservative leader William Hague.

Johnson started off his career as a journalist. After a brief stint as a management consultant, he worked as a reporter for The Times in 1987, before getting sacked for making up a quote. He then worked as a correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, covering the European Community during 1989-94 before becoming assistant editor in 1994.

Of his time at The Telegraph, Johnson remarked; “Everything I wrote from Brussels was having this amazing, explosive effect on the Tory party, and it really gave me this, I suppose, rather weird sense of power”.

In 1994, he became a political columnist for The Spectator, and later went on to become the editor of the magazine in 1999, a role he continued until 2005.

In 1997, he was chosen as the Conservative candidate for Clwyd South in the House of Commons. However, he lost to Martyn Jones of the Labour Party. A few years later, Johnson again stood for Parliament and was elected as an MP for the Conservative seat of Henley-on-Thames in 2001, replacing Michael Heseltine. Around this time, Boris appeared in multiple television shows including the BBC’s “Have I Got News For You” (1990- ) from 1998 onwards.

Despite being embroiled in various scandals at the time, including the publication of an insensitive editorial about the city of Liverspool in The Spectator in 2003 and an alleged affair with a journalist, Johnson was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2005.

No 10 has seen polls that suggest PM would not win election outright

Downing Street has seen polling which suggests Boris Johnson would not win an election outright, according to a senior Tory adviser who lost his job at the weekend. Polling and modelling discussed by senior Number 10 figures suggests the Tories would win about 295 to 300 seats in an election. This is short of the 325 needed for an outright majority, and would likely mean more gridlock and uncertainty in parliament. After Boris Johnson removed the whip from 21 Tory MPs who rebelled last week, and after Amber Rudd resigned as well, the Tories now have 288 MPs who formally take the whip.

Even after he was let go from his position as Shadow Minister for the Arts due to his alleged extramarital dealings, in 2005 he became the Shadow Minister for Higher Education after David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party.

The year 2008 saw Johnson become the Mayor of London after he was elected over two-time office holder, Ken Livingstone. As such, he stepped down as a Member of Parliament and continued to hold the post of London Mayor until 2016.

As Mayor, Johnson presided over the 2012 Olympics, which provided a significant boost to the economy. A report by the U.K. Trade and Investment Department suggested that hosting the Olympics led to a £9.9 billion ($12.3 billion) boost in trade and investment.

During his eight years of tenure, homicide rates in London fell from 22 per million to 12 per million people, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

He also helped introduced the Routemaster London bus, and implemented a public bicycle hire system in July 2010, which have since been popularly termed “Boris bikes.”

(Pictured) Johnson with Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in London, England, on March 31, 2011.

Around this time his popularity increased considerably, with a June 2014 poll placing him 13 popularity points above Cameron.

In August of the same year, he announced that he would run in the upcoming general election.

A year before his term as Mayor ended in 2016, Johnson won the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat and thus returned to Parliament in 2015. The election heralded the first clear majority Conservative Party win since the 1990s.

In early 2016, as Britain was grappling with a polarising debate on whether or not to leave the European Union, Johnson hinted his position as being on the Leave side of the discussion; “If we can't get the reform we need, Britain has a great, great future elsewhere and outside in a different relationship".

On February 21, 2016, he officially announced that he would campaign for a British exit from the EU. “I will be advocating Vote Leave – or whatever the team is called, I understand there are a lot of them – because I want a better deal for the people of this country, to save them money and to take control. That is really what this is all about", he had said.

Johnson said that Cameron’s (R) warnings to leave the EU were “scaremongering” and “wildly exaggerated”. He also drew flak for making racially insensitive comments about the then President of the United States, Barack Obama, when the Obama said that he thought Britain should remain in the EU.

Later, he also went on to say that the European Union is using various methods inspired by dictators to create a superstate. “Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically. The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods” he said, drawing severe criticism and inviting controversy.

With Britain voting to leave the EU on June 24, 2016, and Cameron announcing his resignation, there were speculations that Johnson could be the next Prime Minister. However, after Michael Gove announced his candidacy, Johnson declared that he would not run. Gove soon dropped out of the race in any case.

Following Theresa May's appointment as Prime Minister on July 13, 2016, Johnson was recruited as the new Foreign Secretary. This was widely criticized, considering Johnson’s many controversies and remarks about foreign leaders made during the referendum campaign.

However, in July 2018, he resigned from May’s cabinet because of his disagreement with the way she was handling Brexit negotiations. Later that year, he condemned her publicly by saying the deal she was working on would be “substantially worse” than staying in the EU.

Following his resignation as Foreign Secretary, he returned to Parliament and resumed his role as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph. The following month, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments said that this was a breach of the ministerial code, as Johnson would have to wait for three months before taking up a new job after quitting.

During this stint at the Telegraph, Johnson ran into trouble with Islamophobic comments, which were later written off as him using “provocative” language, but that he was “respectful and tolerant” and entitled to use “satire” to make a point.

Not one to shy away from potentially controversial statements, he said in March 2019 that millions of police funding was being wasted on child sexual abuse allegations. Even though this was heavily condemned, Johnson remained a favourite among speculators that he would replace Theresa May as Prime Minister.

On May 16, 2019, he confirmed he was to run for leadership of the Conservative Party. U.S. President Donald Trump at the time seemed to back Johnson by stating he would be an 'excellent' choice for the role.

On June 12, 2019, Johnson launched his campaign to lead the Tory party and made it clear that he does not want a no-deal Brexit. He stated that after two missed deadlines and three years, Britain must finally leave the EU by the extended deadline of October 31, 2019.

Johnson was hailed as the front-runner in the race to become the next Prime Minister, according to a poll of party members that was published on June 13, 2019. After several other leadership contenders were voted out of the race, Johnson is now competing solely against Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, with the winner to be declared in late July of 2019.

On July 23, 2019, it was announced that Johnson had defeated rival Jeremy Hunt to become the leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister of the UK. Of the result, Johnson said it was 'an honor and a privalege' to be elected as the new leader. He stated his priorities were 'to deliver Brexit and unite the country'.

Back in January 2013, then-British Prime Minister David Cameron declared that he is in favour of an in-out referendum, sometime in the future, to create a new settlement for the U.K. in the European Union (EU). It set in motion a series of negotiations between the two bodies over the formal’s withdrawal from the latter, popularly known as Brexit.

We take a look at a timeline of the negotiations and some of Brexit’s most important developments so far.

Led by Cameron (pictured), the Conservative Party launched its manifesto for the 2015 General Election, which pledged a “real change in our relationship with the European Union.” The party also declared it will hold an in-out referendum “before the end of 2017.” The Conservatives eventually went on to win the election.

In the House of Commons, Cameron announced the date for the EU referendum to be June 23, 2016. The government also published their policy paper titled “The best of both worlds: the United Kingdom's special status in a reformed European Union.”

In the referendum on EU membership, the majority of voters, 51.9 percent, wanted to leave the EU, while 48.1 percent voted to remain. David Cameron announced his intention to resign the next day.

Theresa May became the new British Prime Minister and assumed office on this day.

Earlier in 2016, activist Gina Miller (pictured) had brought a case against the British government, saying it doesn’t have the authority to implement Brexit without an approval from the Parliament. On this day, the High Court found the case in favor of the claimants, enabling the Parliament to play a key role in Brexit. The government said it would appeal against the decision. It later lost this appeal.

The Prime Minister triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, or the Maastricht Treaty, which meant that the U.K. started a two-year countdown to leave the EU.

EU-27 (European Union countries except for the U.K.) members met for the first time since the triggering of Article 50, adopting the guidelines for Brexit negotiation ahead.

Meanwhile, the U.K. government released the “Northern Ireland and Ireland Position Paper,” which clarified how the nation planned to handle the situation of Northern Ireland and Ireland in light of Brexit.

(Pictured) European Council President Donald Tusk speaks at a conference after the EU-27 meet.

The General Election resulted in a hung Parliament. May formed a minority government as the Conservatives won more seats, but would heavily rely on support from the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland for key votes.

The first round of negotiations between the U.K. and EU began on this day.

(Pictured) EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) offers his hand to Britain's Brexit negotiator David Davis during their meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

The EU-27 nations decided upon new seats for two EU agencies, which were based in the U.K. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) was moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands (pictured), while the European Banking Authority (EBA) moved to Paris, France.

The European Commission published the draft titled “Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom,” based on reports from the first phase of negotiations.

The draft proposed that Northern Ireland would act as a “customs territory” of the EU. May responded that no prime minister could “ever agree” with it and added that such a move would “undermine the U.K. common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom.”

Marking one year to go until Brexit, May paid a visit to each nation of the U.K., promising that only such a Brexit deal will be delivered which works for every community and also protects the integrity of the nation.

The British Cabinet met at Chequers, the country house of the prime minister, to hash out their differences and reach a collective position for future Brexit negotiations. It was decided that the proposals would be published as White Paper in the following days. While the Cabinet formally endorsed May’s idea for a U.K.-EU Free Trade Area, it questioned the Government’s proposed future relationship with the EU.

Not happy with how the U.K. was “giving away too much and too easily” to the EU, Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned, along with Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Boris Johnson. Dominic Raab was appointed as the new Brexit Secretary.

On this day, the Government published the first set of technical notices on how to prepare in case the U.K. leaves the EU with no deal. Raab also delivered a speech on no-deal planning.

At an informal summit of EU leaders in Salzburg, Austria, May gave a speech on the latest developments. The main component of her plan for a post-Brexit relationship was strongly opposed, leading her to warn that she would walk away from the discussions if no deal could be reached.

Around 700,000 people participated in a massive People’s Vote March to demand a referendum on the final terms of any Brexit deal.

Negotiations were held between the U.K. and EU to reach a contract in principle on the Withdrawal Agreement. It established the terms of the country’s departure on March 29, 2019.

Citing his opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement, Raab resigned from the Cabinet, along with other ministers such as Brexit Undersecretary Suella Braverman and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey.

In a short statement outside 10 Downing Street, May said, “The British people want this to be settled. They want a good deal that sets us on course for a brighter future. That deal is within our grasp and I am determined to deliver it.”

While addressing the House of Commons on exiting the European Union, the Prime Minister announced a delay to the Meaningful Vote (which ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement), which was planned to be held the following day, saying, “If we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin.”

British firm Seaborne Freight was awarded a £13.8 million contract by the Government to run extra ferries between Ramsgate, England, and Ostend, Belgium, if a no-deal Brexit takes place. The move raised major concerns as the company had never run a ferry service before.

The Government suffered a record defeat in the Meaningful Vote on its plans for Brexit, with 432 votes against and 202 in favor.

May and her Government faced a defeat yet again, as the second Meaningful Vote saw 391 against and 242 for.

Marking a huge blow to May, the Members of Parliament voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit. They also asked the government to seek permission from the EU to extend Article 50, which meant extending the deadline for departure.

Brexit Leader Nigel Farage (C, in green overcoat) organized a 270-mile (435 km) march from Sunderland to London, demanding the exit of Britain from the EU.

The EU agreed a short extension to the Brexit deadline, offering the date of May 22, 2019 (if May can get her Brexit deal passed) and April 12, 2019 (if not). The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warned that the nation may face a national emergency over Brexit.

Nearly a million protesters took to the streets in Central London, demanding that the people must be given a final say on Brexit.

May told Conservative lawmakers that she would step down if Parliament approved her plan for withdrawal. “I know there is a desire for a new approach, and new leadership, in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that," the Prime Minister said. She did not specify when she would step down.

On the day the U.K. was supposed to withdraw from the EU, Parliament rejected May's withdrawal agreement a third time. The government lost by 344 votes to 286. In response to the vote, the EU planned an emergency summit on April 10 to discuss its next move.

Following the government's failure to pass May's withdrawal agreement through Parliament a third time, a second series of indicative votes by MPs resulted in the proposed Brexit alternatives - including a 'customs union' relationship with the bloc, a 'common market 2.0', and a second referendum - being rejected. Such an outcome means increasing government pressure to receive Parliamentary backing on May's deal, or to seek a long Brexit extension to avoid a no-deal scenario.

(Pictured) A Westminster City Council employee sweeps the street in front of 10 Downing Street in London, England on April 1, 2019.

With the House of Commons voting by 313 votes to 312 - a majority of one - on Labour member Yvette Cooper's bill that the Prime Minister must ask the EU for a further extension to Brexit, Theresa May wrote to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, seeking an additional delay until June 30, 2019. The extension would ostensibly provide the U.K. more time to move beyond the current Parliamentary impasse over Brexit.

(Pictured) A combination photo shows a copy of Prime Minister Theresa May's letter to Donald Tusk, seeking an additional Brexit delay, in London, England on April 5, 2019.

After Theresa May proposed a delay of June 30, 2019 to EU leaders, a longer extension of up to Oct. 31, 2019 was agreed by the EU27 just 48 hours before the U.K. was scheduled to leave the bloc without a deal. This longer extension includes a break clause allowing the U.K. to leave before October if a withdrawal agreement is passed through the House of Commons. While the delay means Britain avoids a hard Brexit in April, the country must now participate in European elections in May.

(Pictured) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk hold a news conference in Brussels, Belgium after EU leaders discuss Brexit on April 11, 2019.

The British prime minister announced that she will step down from her post on June 7, 2019. "It is now clear to me that it is in the best interest of the U.K. for a new PM to lead that effort," she said.