Barnaby Joyce says he will resign as Australia’s deputy prime minister following a politically damaging saga that began with his affair with a former staffer.

Mr Joyce said he would step down on Monday as leader of the Nationals, the junior government partner.

Mr Joyce had resisted calls to quit amid questions over whether he had breached ministerial rules.

He called his decision on Friday a “circuit-breaker”.

“This current cacophony of issues has to be put aside,” he told reporters.

On Monday morning I will step down as the Leader of @The_Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. I would like to thank everyone for offering their support to me, especially the people of New England.

— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) February 23, 2018

Mr Joyce is perhaps best-known for once threatening to kill Johnny Depp’s dogs over a quarantine violation, and for briefly losing his job over his New Zeland dual citizenship last year.

On Friday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanked Mr Joyce for being a “a fierce advocate for rural and regional Australia”.

The political scrutiny of Mr Joyce has dominated Australian headlines for more than two weeks.

Last week, Mr Turnbull publicly criticised Mr Joyce’s “shocking error of judgement.”

Courtesy – BBC

• SLC files bribery complaint against ex-Sports Minister
• Understanding Sri Lanka’s Debt Restructuring position
• Probation Centre Warden charged over death of child in Kalmunai, further remanded.
• Increased dengue risk in Dehiwala, Battaramulla and Kaduwela
• Heavy showers above 75mm in several areas