Members of his own parliamentary group are failing to support the British head of government. But he will not go voluntarily, he has made that clear. He might be forced soon.
Despite harsh criticism from within his own ranks and more than two dozen resignations from party friends, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to remain in office.
“I will not resign,” Johnson said on Wednesday when questioned before a parliamentary committee in London. Johnson added indignantly that he didn’t want to talk about himself, but about his political agenda. The government crisis had triggered an affair over allegations of sexual assault by a leading parliamentary group member.
Demands for resignation from our own ranks
Several Conservative party friends had previously asked Johnson, directly or indirectly, to resign at question time in parliament. The mood on the Conservative benches in the House of Commons – where the prime minister is usually cheered with loud “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” calls – was icy. Sometimes there was grave silence. Ex-Health Minister Sajid Javid, who resigned on Tuesday evening, called on other cabinet members to follow his example.
As the media reported on Wednesday evening, a delegation of several cabinet members wanted to suggest that the conservative prime minister resign in the government seat at 10 Downing Street that evening. Among them is said to be Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who was only appointed to his post on Tuesday. His predecessor Rishi Sunak had resigned hours earlier in protest at Johnson’s leadership style. Transport Minister Grant Shapps is said to have joined the call. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Works and Housing Secretary Michael Gove have also reportedly turned their backs on Johnson.
Another vote of no confidence?
Should Johnson not go voluntarily, his critics want to force him out of office. Speculations about a necessary change in the Tory party rules to vote out the party leader did not come true on Wednesday after a meeting of the responsible 1922 committee. But that could change next Monday when the board of directors is re-elected.
Johnson narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in his group just a month ago. Under Tory party rules, no new attempt may be made for 12 months after the vote.
The journalist James Forsyth from the conservative “Spectator” magazine, who is well connected in Tory circles, quoted an influential member of the panel as saying that they wanted to put the gun on Johnson’s chest. If he does not resign voluntarily, the way will be cleared for a vote of no confidence.
Affair about Tory colleagues a scandal too many
The most recent government crisis in Westminster was triggered by the harassment scandal surrounding Johnson’s party colleague Chris Pincher. It had led to a series of resignations in the cabinet on Tuesday. It was previously revealed that Johnson knew of allegations of sexual harassment against Pincher before he promoted him to a key faction office. His spokesman had previously denied this several times.
The affair could prove to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Johnson has been under massive pressure for months because of illegal lockdown parties during the pandemic at Downing Street. He himself had received a criminal warrant from the police for participating in one of the illegal gatherings.
Johnson apologized. But it was too late. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid resigned, and several other MPs resigned from party and government offices. It is considered likely that Johnson would not survive another no-confidence vote. According to a spokeswoman, he wants to face a possible vote and is still convinced that he has a majority in his group behind him.
Source: Stern
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