LONDON aEUR: The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally accepted political reality on Thursday. He resigned following the latest ethics scandal surrounding his leadership that led to the resignation of 50 senior members of the government.
Johnson had held on to power for just two days and on Wednesday, he defiantly told lawmakers that he had a “colossal mandate from voters” and wanted to continue with the business side of government.
He was forced to accept defeat on Thursday morning, after two members of his Cabinet resigned and Treasury Chief Nadhim Zhawi publicly advised him to resign for good country.
Johnson’s departure date was not known immediately.
His resignation will lead to an internal election to elect a new leader for the Conservative Party. This will also make him the next prime minister. This process is expected to occur this summer.
Johnson indicated that he will remain in office until the end. This would be controversial and critics argue that Johnson should be removed as caretaker prime minster.
“Now PM has done the decent thing and handed in the seals of his office, apologise for her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth I), allow her to appoint Caretaker under which Ministers can serve so that the Conservative Party can select a new leader properly,” George Freeman tweeted. Freeman was the science minister who resigned on Thursday.
Zahawi was promoted to this position earlier in the week by Johnson as he tried to strengthen his Cabinet. He and a few colleagues had privately voiced their concerns to Johnson on Wednesday, and Johnson advised him to resign.
In a Twitter letter, Zahawi stated that “I am heartbroken he hasn’t listened” and was now undermining the amazing achievements of this government. “But the country deserves an honest government that isn’t only stable but also acts with integrity.”
On Thursday morning, 50 cabinet secretaries, ministers, and lower-ranking officials resigned from the government. Many of them criticized the prime minister for not being honest. The crisis caused some parliamentary committees to halt because they couldn’t find ministers who could speak on behalf of the government, leaving more than 20 vacant positions.
Johnson is humiliated by the defeat. Johnson was successful in leading Britain from the European Union. Johnson also helped to roll out one of the most successful mass vaccination campaigns against COVID-19.
The perpetually rumpled leader, known for his bombast and blusterful greetings to critics, was also criticized for being willing to bend and sometimes even break the rules in order to reach his goals.
Johnson, 58, was able to stay in power for nearly three years despite accusations that he was too close with party donors, that Johnson protected supporters from bullying, corruption allegations, and misled Parliament about government offices that violated pandemic lockdown rules.
Recent revelations that Johnson knew of sexual misconduct allegations against a Conservative lawmaker prior to he promoted him in government leadership proved to be another scandal.
After being accused of having groped two men in a private club, Chris Pincher, deputy chief whip, resigned. This triggered a series reports on past allegations against Pincher.
Johnson tried to deflect criticism by shifting explanations about when and what he knew, but this only highlighted concerns that Johnson couldn’t trust.
Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, and Treasury chief Rishi Sonak, both resigned within minutes each other Tuesday night. This triggered a wave departures among Cabinet colleagues as well as lower-ranking officials.
Javid captured many legislators’ emotions when he stated that Johnson’s actions threatened the integrity of both the Conservative Party (and the British government)
He said Wednesday that “at some point we must conclude that enough is sufficient.” “I believe that the point is now.”
Bernard Jenkin, a senior Conservative Party lawmaker said to the BBC that he had met Johnson later in the day, and suggested that Johnson resign.
I just said to him, “Look, it’s just how you go now. You can either go with dignity or be forced out, just like Donald Trump who is clinging on to power pretending that he won the election .”’
