Boris Johnson, government at risk: key ministers resign

A roundup of resignations, from yesterday to today: Boris Johnson’s government is collapsing hour after hour. The first to throw in the towel were Sajid Javid, Minister of Health, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Bim Afolami, Vice President of Tory. “You have also lost my confidence,” Javid wrote to the premier. Sunak, in his resignation letter, explained: “The public rightly expects the government to be conducted in an appropriate, competent and serious manner. I think it’s worth fighting for these standards and that’s why I’m resigning ». Also yesterday, Andrew Murrison, a Conservative MP, resigned as government envoy for Commerce, saying that Boris Johnson’s position was “irrecoverable” and to have gotten to the point of having enough.

Today came the resignations of Will Quince, Deputy Minister of Family and Childhood, of Laura Trott, who was Minister of Transport, and of Robin Walker, Minister of the School, who said he no longer had “faith in the leadership of the First Minister “.

The situation plummeted and the morale of the Conservative party plummeted after it scandal starring Chris Pincher, deputy leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons: dead drunk, in the Cotton Club in London, he allegedly “groped two men”, two young activists of the Conservative Party. It wouldn’t even be the first time: Pincher wouldn’t be new to unwanted advances and attention towards young colleagues and assistants. The problem, according to the resigning, is that Boris Johnson had been aware of Pincher’s conduct for yearsbut he would always deny the truth, even when he appointed him deputy group leader.

Faced with the resignation, Johnson immediately proceeded to fill the positions left uncovered with a mini reshuffle. The premier seems absolutely willing to resist and continue in his role, as confirmed by the new chancellor Nadim Zahawi. but there are those who bet that it will not even arrive at the end of the week. A month ago, more than 40% of the parliamentary group voted against him. Theoretically, a new vote is not possible for a year, but given the criticality of the situation, it is possible that the rule will be changed in the coming weeks. And it could be very difficult for Johnson to survive a second vote of no confidence.