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LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who appears to have spent half his term as Prime Minister apologizing for something, is back in the hot water. Great time. Two of his top cabinet ministers resigned suddenly and surprisingly on Tuesday, saying they had lost faith in Johnson’s leadership.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who serves as the UK’s finance minister, and Sajid Javid, the health secretary overseeing the UK’s pandemic response, announced their departures with just a few minutes to go. the other, making it clear that they had lost confidence in Johnson.
Some critics say they are curtains for this prime minister. But his disappearance has been predicted many times before, as he has faced one political scandal after another, including alcohol parties held at his Downing Street offices in violation of his pandemic blockade rules. government. Johnson became the first incumbent prime minister to be found to have broken the law, and is still facing an investigation that lied to Parliament about the holidays.
Tuesday’s resignations were linked to a different controversy: Johnson’s appointment of Conservative lawmaker Chris Pincher to a key government position, despite previous allegations of misconduct.
Sunak tweeted: “The public rightly expects the government to conduct itself properly, competently and seriously. I recognize that this may be my last ministerial job, but I think it is worth fighting for these rules and that is why I will resign.”
Javid wrote in his resignation letter that although Johnson survived a censure vote last month, the Conservative Party in government no longer demonstrated competence or acted in the national interest.
“It is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership,” he wrote to Johnson, “and therefore you have also lost my confidence.”
In February, Johnson appointed Pincher as deputy director of the House of Commons, a leadership role that had tasked him with keeping members of the Conservative Party – the shrill “back benches” – behind the prime minister and the legislative agenda. of his government.
But Pincher last week resigned from the post after confessing in a letter to Johnson that he had “drunk too much” and that he “embarrassed me and others” at a meeting. The British press reported that the incident happened at the Carlton Club, a private drinking fountain in London, dominated by members of the Conservative Party.
While intoxicated, Pincher allegedly tried to palpate several men, the UK press widely reported. Witnesses told the BBC the Pincher was “extremely drunk”.
This isn’t the first time Pincher has had problems, and that’s what has gotten Johnson in trouble.
The prime minister admitted that he had been informed of previous allegations about Pincher’s alleged misconduct in 2019 (which Pincher has denied). At first, Johnson’s official spokesman said the prime minister was unaware of previous incidents, then stepped back to say the chief had been informed.
“There is no place for anyone in this government to abuse power,” Johnson said in an apology Tuesday. “I bitterly regret the decision not to … intervene.”
When the BBC asked him if he ever joked, “Pincher by name, pincher by nature,” the prime minister did not deny having used the phrase.
Boris Johnson survives but is weakened by the censorship vote
Johnson, who has made it clear he will not go anywhere unless pushed, quickly moved to fill cabinet vacancies, appointing Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi as the new chancellor and chief of staff at Downing Street, Steve Barclay, as health secretary. He also selected Michelle Donelan as a replacement for the education post.
As the night progressed, all eyes were on other cabinet members to see if Sunak and Javid would be the only ones to resign, or the start of a wave. Sunak and Javid are considered potential rivals of Johnson.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted: “I’m not sure anyone will doubt it, but I’m 100% behind @BorisJohnson, the prime minister who constantly makes all the big decisions.”
Others did not tweet, but the British media indicated that the remaining prime ministers were staying there for the time being.