Mr Johnson is under investigation by a special committee in the UK Parliament into whether he misled the House of Commons about lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Mr Johnson received a confidential letter from the committee, he accused it of “political vendetta” by lawmakers investigating him. “I am being forced out by a small number of people without any evidence to support their claims,” he said.

The special committee of the British Parliament has the power to ask Johnson to resign from the body. If the suspension lasts longer than 10 days, voters in his constituency can ask him to stand again to represent them. Mr Johnson announced that he would leave the British Parliament "right now".

But his decision to step down could spell the end of his 22-year political career, which saw him rise from MP to Mayor of London and then British Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson was ousted as British prime minister in part due to an outcry within his own party and across the UK over COVID-rule-breaking parties at his Downing Street office and residence.

The UK Parliament's special committee said it would meet next Monday to conclude its investigation and publish its report shortly. A committee spokesman said Mr Johnson had "denied the integrity" of Parliament with his resignation announcement.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNA)