Scotland’s papers: Going, going, but not gone and Johnson: The end

There’s one story making all the front pages on Friday and that is the resignation of Boris Johnson. The prime minister bowed to rising pressure and announced he would step down on Thursday. “Going, going, but not gone” in The Scotsman captures the situation where the Tory leader shared his plan to remain in Number 10 until a replacement is confirmed, possibly until the party conference in October.

“Johnson: The end” draws a line under the prime minister’s premiership in The Herald. The paper says he finally folded under “overwhelming pressure” from Tory MPs but said Mr Johnson was warned that it might be “unwise and unsustainable” for him to carry on until the autumn.

i

“Downfall” is the one-word headline in the i newspaper. It bullet points the main news lines, saying that Boris Johnson blamed the “herd mentality” of his MPs for him having to surrender “the best job in the world” and that he also attacked “eccentric” rebels in the Tory party in his speech outside Number 10.

Daily Record

The Daily Record doesn’t mince its words in its headline “Worst PM ever”. The paper lists on the front page all the scandals and controversies the former PM presided over in his three years in power, saying that “serial liar” Boris Johnson was “finally forced to face the truth” and resign.

The National throws Boris Johnson’s own words back at him, leading with the headline “leave means leave”. Previously used to refer to Brexit, the paper applies it to the politician’s intentions to stick around until a new leader is in place. “Johnson resigns, but won’t quit for months,” the paper says.

Metro

The same headline was too tempting for The Metro which describes the developments as “PM quits, but stays”. The paper reports that Mr Johnson “bowed to the inevitable” and resigned after “the biggest Cabinet rebellion in history”.

The Times says “Johnson throws in the towel”, quoting part of his speech where he referred to the moves to oust him as “herd mentality”. During his address, he also admitted “them’s the breaks”. The report also says critics have urged him to leave the role now as a leadership contest has begun.

The Scottish Sun also pulls out “Them’s the breaks” as a highlight of the speech, but says the decision to stay on until autumn has “sparked fury”. The paper describes a “defiant” speech from Mr Johnson as he fell on his sword. The front page also pictures a behind-the-scenes photo of the Johnson family.

Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph describes it as “the long goodbye” and claims senior Tory MPs have warned that the country will be left in a “state of paralysis” if the prime minister remains in Downing Street until a successor is chosen. The paper says Mr Johnson told his Cabinet he would not implement any fresh policies before he was replaced. In a comment piece on the front page of the paper suggests Mr Johnson’s legacy is secure.

It’s the same headline in the Scottish Daily Mail, which moves to humanise Mr Johnson with a whole page photograph of the PM’s wife, Carrie, consoling her husband after he announced his resignation. The paper says the events of Thursday “fired the starting gun” on a two-month race to be the next leader of the Conservative party.

Scottish Daily Express

“You gave Britain back its freedom” says the Scottish Daily Express as it thanks the prime minister. It says the PM resigned reluctantly, but with great dignity on Thursday.

The Edinburgh Evening News also goes with “The long Goodbye” as it focuses on the PM’s aim to stick around as caretaker leader.

Daily Star

The Daily Star’s front page features a checklist of achievements making up the PM’s “legacy”. It also features a photo of Mr Johnson with a red nose. The list includes getting a cute dog, organising parties and nice wallpaper as among Mr Johnson’s legacy.

“Bye bye Boris” says the Glasgow Times as it also leads with the departure of Mr Johnson.

Dundee Evening Telegraph

And the Evening Telegraph features a a court story about a Forfar “employee from hell” who threatened his boss with a shotgun and tortured him with a dog chain during two decades of abuse.