Cascading resignations. There have been several resignations. Michelle Donelan (new Minister of Education), walked out on Thursday, July 7, only two days after she was appointed.
In a letter she wrote to Boris Johnson, she stated that “you have put us into an impossible situation.” Just a few minutes before, Nadhim Zahawi (Finance Minister) had also been appointed Tuesday and asked the Prime Minister to “leave immediately”, but not resign.
This new political crisis was caused by Chris Pincher’s actions as Deputy Chief Whip of Parliamentary Discipline for Conservative MPs. According to Sky News television, the MP was accused of touching two men including another MP.
According to reports, the facts were presented to witnesses at the Carlton Club in London, a private club. This led to complaints to Conservative Party. Chris Pincher, in a resignation letter dated June 30, admitted that he had “drank way too much” and apologized to others.
Boris Johnson admitted to making a mistake in appointing Chris Pincher as his February Cabinet member. After insisting the contrary, Downing Street said Tuesday that Boris Johnson had been told in 2019 about old charges against him but had “forgotten”.
A “oblivion” that has yet to pass. Since Tuesday, 57 resignations were announced by the government. A departure of unimaginable speed in British politics history.
Sajid Javid, the minister of health, and Rishi Sunak, the finance minister, were the first to leave. The public expects that the government will be run in a “competent, serious” manner. “That is why I am resignation,” Rishi Sunak wrote to Boris Johnson.
On Wednesday morning, Will Quince, Secretary of State for Children and Families and Laura Trott (assistant to the Secretary to Transport) were also present.
Brandon Lewis, the British Minister for Northern Ireland has also announced his resignation. In a Twitter resignation letter, he stated that “decent and responsible government is built upon honesty, integrity and mutual respect — it is with deep personal regretted that I must leave government because I believe these values have been lost.” He stated that the “point of no returns” is reached.
Michelle Donelan was appointed Tuesday to the Ministry of Education’s head, but she decided to quit on Thursday. In her resignation letter to BoJo, she stated that “You put us into an impossible situation.”
They are becoming less common. They are also discreet. According to British media, Boris Johnson was asked by several ministers, including the faithful to resign because the situation is becoming untenable. Priti Patel, the Interior Minister, and Nadhim Zahawi were two of those cited. These names were cited less than 24 hours after Johnson was appointed Minister of Finance.
After claiming a “colossal mandate” he had to fulfill, the Prime Minister fired Michael Gove, the minister in charge of territorial balancencing, by telephone on Wednesday evening. BBC reports that Downing Street called Michael Gove “snake” and was not worthy of Boris Johnson’s trust.
A Savanta ComRes poll released Wednesday shows that 72% of Britons think the Prime Minister should be resigned. Boris Johnson, already greatly weakened by scandals involving Downing Street parties during the pandemic of 1918, survived a vote against him from his own party a few weeks back (40% of Conservative MPs refused to vote for him).
This “partygate” was augmented by several sexually-oriented cases in Parliament. An MP was arrested for rape and released on bail in May. Another MP resigned in April after he was caught watching pornography on the House’s phone. A former MP was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in May for sexual assaulting a 15-year old boy.
Boris Johnson, however, remained at the helm. There was no question in Boris Johnson resigning after the crushing defeat in the June partial legislative elections.
Pincher will finally be the Prime Minister’s skin. According to the BBC Boris Johnson will step down as leader of Conservative Party but not from government, according to the BBC. He will continue to be at 10 Downing Street, until a new leader of the Conservative Party is elected in autumn. Then, he will become prime minister. According to Labor Keir Sternmer, the leader of the opposition: “Good news.” Is this delay sustainable?
