MPs in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire have been reacting to the news that Boris Johnson is expected to resign as prime minister today.

Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis said he was grateful for the investment the prime minister had secured for the area, but that he was thankful Mr Johnson has decided to go.

He said: "I am thankful that the Prime Minister has finally agreed to resign.

"I want to place on record my thanks to him for the record sums of investment into Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke.

"The £56 million Levelling Up Fund to regenerate our city, the £31.7 million to improve bus services in Stoke-on-Trent, the 500 new jobs from the Home Office, and the £17.6 million Kidsgrove Town Deal, proves a Conservative government has not and will not forget Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke.

"We need to fill ministerial roles quickly and focus on tackling the big national and global challenges we face. 

"The next leader of the Conservative Party will have to prove to me they can restore integrity in politics, as well as show their unwavering commitment and support to level up and deliver for the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke."

Meanwhile Aaron Bell, speaking in the House of Commons, said he was glad Boris Johnson had finally come to his senses.

He said he wanted the prime minister to step aside immediately if he can't fill ministerial jobs and run a functioning government.

Mr Bell said: "I'm glad he has finally come to his senses and will be making his statement shortly.

"I am very, very sad that in the last 48 hours, so many honourable and right honourable colleagues have felt the need to resign from government.

"If those people will not serve this prime minister, could I ask my honourable friend to convey to the prime minister that it will not be it will not be tenable for him to continue as a caretaker if he cannot fill the ministerial appointments he needs to."

Jo Gideon said she was glad Boris Johnson had done the right thing, and added that it had been a sad and painful process.

She said: "I'm glad the Prime Minister has done the right thing and resigned.

"The swathe of resignations of government ministers demonstrated that senior colleagues acknowledge the need for new leadership.

"It has been a sad and painful process and we must now come together as a party for the sake of the country and find a way forward which will provide continuity of government as we look to select a new leader.

"As a One Nation Conservative I will be supporting a leader who continues to deliver our commitment to level up the UK, and who does so with the integrity and strong leadership that we need in these difficult times."

The LDRS has also approached Karen Bradley and Jack Brereton for a comment.

Elsewhere in Staffordshire, Lichfield's MP Michael Fabricant said he was sorry to see Boris Johnson resign – adding the PM had his support until the very end.

He said: "I regret that Boris Johnson has had to stand down.

"He had my support to the very end, but with so many resignations from the government and the haemorrhaging of confidence in him from within the wider Conservative parliamentary party, I can understand that he felt his position had become untenable.

"Boris is a visionary and I have no doubt that without him we would not have achieved Brexit, initiated the very first Covid public vaccine programme in the world, or been the very first country to supply arms to Ukraine ahead of the Russian invasion.

"He has never been frightened of making tough and bold decisions. He will be hard to replace.

"He is right to remain as prime minister until a successor is found. Both the Labour and Conservative parties have done this in the past and I am sure that the ministerial vacancies that currently exist will now soon be filled.

"I hope that whoever replaces Boris as prime minister will share his vision for this country as a sovereign and independent nation while protecting the poor and encouraging wealth creation.

"Over the next couple of weeks, the parliamentary party will have to whittle down a list of names of those who wish to be the next prime minister; the top two names will then be forwarded to all long-standing party members for them to make a choice and a new prime minister will be chosen by October when the Conservative Party Conference will be held in Birmingham.

"I hope that the transition will be smooth and without rancour. It's important that the country now moves on from this turbulent period."