“Partygate” affair: Boris Johnson’s fifth advisor quits

“Partygate” affair: Boris Johnson’s fifth advisor quits

Things are getting lonely around British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. One of his staunchest supporters has resigned – presumably triggering an exodus from Downing Street. Three other advisors also threw down. Now the next one follows.

Boris Johnson’s closest adviser, Munira Mirza, resigned. Downing Street said on Thursday evening that Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield and Johnson’s private secretary, Martin Reynolds, had also submitted their resignations, which had been accepted. Both continue to work until there are successors for them. Communications chief Jack Doyle had previously resigned, as revealed by the Spectator and the Daily Mail.

And the drama surrounding the British prime minister never ends. According to a report, he has now lost another close associate. The consultant Elena Narozanski – responsible for women’s politics, cultural politics and extremism – has resigned, the well-connected conservative blog “Conservative Home” reported on Friday in London.

Johnson supporters in his Conservative Party and members of the government emphasized that the resignations show that the prime minister is implementing the promised cultural change. “Now the Prime Minister is taking charge,” Energy Secretary Greg Hands told Sky News. A report on the investigation into the “Partygate” affair about celebrations in Downing Street during the corona lockdown spoke of leadership failure. The police are investigating. Johnson is under a lot of pressure.

The resignations do not let the saga of a seat of government in chaos come to an end. What matters, however, is how many MPs from the Conservative Tory party have already voiced their distrust of Johnson – and how many will do so.

“It’s not too late for you, but (…) it’s too late for me”

In particular, the resignation of his confidant Mirza hits the prime minister hard, commentators say. She justified her move with personal attacks by Johnson on opposition leader Keir Starmer. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak also distanced himself from the criticism of Starmer on Thursday evening. Another prominent Tory followed on Friday in MP Huw Merriman. Johnson had used a right-wing conspiracy theory against Starmer.

Mirza expressed disappointment that Johnson had explained it but not apologized – and urged him to do so. “It’s not too late for you but, I’m sorry to say, it’s too late for me,” she wrote in a dramatic suicide note.

Boris Johnson announces reforms

According to the “Politico” portal, the surprising departure of Mirza, who worked for Johnson for 14 years and was previously considered one of his most loyal supporters, started the carousel. So far it is unclear how voluntary the further resignations were. In his reaction to the official investigation, Johnson announced a far-reaching reform of the British headquarters. For example, responsibilities should be assigned more clearly and a new coordination post should be created. Initially, nothing was known about personal consequences.

During the Corona lockdowns, parties have reportedly repeatedly taken place in Downing Street, at which Corona rules were broken and at which Johnson is said to have been present at times. An investigation report accuses those responsible of leadership failure and breaches of rules, and the police are also investigating. Some MPs from his own party have already written out their support for Johnson. According to the BBC, 17 letters have already been received by the responsible committee, with 54 there being a vote of no confidence.

Source: Stern

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