LONDON — Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, faces a vote Monday. This is after a growing number British lawmakers turned against him in their Conservative Party. The vote comes after months of scandal.
The vote will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. ET was initiated after numerous Conservative lawmakers submitted letters of non-confidence in his leadership.
Johnson will be fired if he loses.
After the discovery of several Covid lockdown-busting parties in his No. 10 Downing St. and his office for the past two-years. Police have fined him and many others for their parties, despite the fact that they had previously denied violating any rules.
Johnson’s remarkable victory, just three years after he signed a Brexit agreement with the European Union, is an extraordinary one. He won a 2019 election, and there were predictions that Johnson’s rule would last for a decade.
Johnson’s Conservative Party has been divided by widespread anger, with many concerned about polling showing that millions of people have turned against them due to ‘partygate’ scandal.
After a weekend of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II, the Platinum Jubilee weekend, the government is now suffering from a serious hangover.
Johnson, in truth, was not allowed to forget his public dismal standing.
He and his wife Carrie were booed outside St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday — a notable incident for a leader in a right-wing party that might expect to include royalists as his core support. Lee Mack, comedian, made jokes about Mack’s unpopularity to a national audience during Saturday’s Buckingham Palace concert.
According to YouGov pollster, Johnson’s disapproval rating has risen to 68 per cent. It was 26 per cent in early 2020.
Although disquiet has been brewing for several weeks, party officials announced Monday that there would be an early morning vote of confidence in the prime Minister. This vote will take place later in the day. This is done when party rules dictate that 15% of the members of Parliament (currently 54 MPs) write letters expressing their discontent with their leader.
Johnson’s office stated in a statement that the confidence vote was “a chance for months of speculation to come to an end and allow the government’s government to draw a straight line and move forward.” He will also make his case to lawmakers before the vote, saying that “when they are united and focus on the issues that matter most to voters, there’s no stronger political force.”
The vote of confidence, like much of British politics is, is a complex and secretive process. The total number of letters received has been known only by Graham Brady, chairman a group called “The 1922 Committee”, which represents backbennch Conservative lawmakers.
He confirmed that the threshold was met on Monday. The secret ballot will take place in Parliament between 6 and 8 p.m. (local time) (1 and 3 p.m. ET). Johnson requires support from more than 50% of Conservative MPs, which currently includes 180 votes.
Brady said that a confidence vote was being held today and would be reported to Parliament. It took place on a gray, wet morning in the British capital.
Johnson would lose if there was a leadership contest between his party rivals. Johnson would still be prime minister until the winner is chosen.
Johnson will be exempted from any further challenge for twelve months if he wins the secret ballot. Brady pointed out Monday that these rules could be altered and that the ruthless Conservative Party had a history deposing leaders despite winning votes of confidence.
Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May in 2019, won the same vote. However, the large minority who opposed her made it clear that Johnson could not continue. Margaret Thatcher, the then-Prime Minister, defeated a challenge by her finance minister, but withdrew her resignation after consulting her Cabinet. She was not supported by the party.
It is evident that Johnson’s supporters are increasing in number within the party.
Jesse Norman, one of the two, tweeted Monday that Johnson had “presided” over a culture “of casual law-breaking”. Norman called this claim “grotesque” in his letter.
It is difficult to overstate the anger felt by the nation at the parties.
The government was under increasing pressure to investigate a culture of boozy parties. There were 16 events, including punch-ups. Staff left the building at 4 AM, hours before the queen had to be alone for the funeral of Prince Philip.
A Metropolitan Police investigation resulted in 126 fines being imposed on 83 individuals, including Johnson and his spouse. He was the first British prime minister to be found guilty of violating the law.
However, it’s not just partygate which causes anger.
