Johnson's resignation is 'an opportunity to reset' Anglo-Irish relations

Government sources accept that any successor is also likely to be a hardline Brexiteer

Boris Johnson formally resigned as Conservative Party leader on Thursday.

The resignation of Boris Johnson was hailed as an opportunity to reset Anglo-Irish relations after a day of high drama in Westminster.

As resignations continued to pile up in Mr Johnson's government early on Thursday, the British prime minister bowed to internal party pressure and announced he would resign as party leader. However, he said he would stay on until his party chooses a successor, with the timetable for the contest to be announced next week.