Boris Johnson and wife Marina Wheeler divorcing after 25 years of marriage

  • Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener

Boris Johnson and his wife Marina Wheeler have announced that they have separated and are going through the process of divorce.

In a joint personal statement issued to the Press Association through a family friend, the couple said that their separation occurred “several months ago”.

Despite the impending divorce process, speculation still remains as to whether the former foreign secretary is vying for the top job in Government.

A pro-Boris Tory MP told ITV News that following this announcement there will be "pressure" on Theresa May as she tries to keep her job as Prime Minister.

"You will start to see daily calls for Theresa May to stand down and an increase in the pressure for her to go," the MP told ITV News Political Correspondent Daniel Hewitt.

  • Will this have an impact on Boris Johnson's leadership ambitions?

The divorce announcement comes after The Sun revealed on its front page that the Conservative MP and his lawyer wife, both 54, were no longer living together.

In their statement, Mr Johnson and Ms Wheeler said: “Several months ago, after 25 years of marriage, we decided it was in our best interests to separate.

Boris Johnson and his wife Marina Wheeler leaveing Carlton House Terrace in Westminster, London, after he resigned as Foreign Secretary on July 9. Credit: Isabel Infantes/PA

“We have subsequently agreed to divorce and that process is under way.

“As friends we will continue to support our four children in the years ahead. We will not be commenting further”.