After Rishi Sunak, UK Minister Priti Patel has asked PM Boris Johnson to resign on Wednesday. (file)
London:
Senior UK cabinet members crowded Downing Street on Wednesday and some reportedly urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step down after dozens of ministers left his scandal-hit government.
According to several reports, a cabinet delegation was awaiting his return from a lengthy interrogation by a parliamentary committee to inform him that his time had run out.
It was said to include hardline interior ministers Priti Patel and Nadim Jahvi, who have barely been 24 hours into their new job of finance minister.
But two of Johnson’s loyalists – Nadine Dorris and Jacob Rees-Mogg – declared their unwavering support in cabinet as they also entered 10 Downing Street, and the crisis meeting still went on for more than two hours.
The Daily Mirror’s respected political editor Pippa Kreer tweeted: “Sad mood in Downing Street. No 10 insider says ‘lots of tears’ in building.”
The 58-year-old leader’s grip on power has been slipping since Tuesday night, when Rishi Sunak resigned as finance minister and Sajid Javid as health secretary.
Both said they could no longer tolerate the scandalous culture that has plagued Johnson for months, including enacting lockdown laws in Downing Street.
As of Wednesday evening, a total of 38 ministers had resigned, mostly from more junior positions outside the cabinet.
But on a parliamentary committee, and in an earlier question-and-answer session with lawmakers in parliament, Johnson steadfastly vowed to continue working.
When asked about the cabinet delegation, he told the committee, “I am not going to comment on political developments.”
“We are going to go ahead with the government of the country.”
He added: “What we need is stable government, loving each other as conservatives, moving forward with our priorities, that’s what we need to do.”
– ‘The problem starts from the top’ –
Earlier, Javid had urged other ministers to resign.
“The problem starts at the top, and I believe that is not going to change,” he said.
“And that means it’s up to those of us who are in that position — who have the responsibility — to make that change.”
At the end of his speech, shouts of “Goodbye, Boris” echoed around the room. Most Tories were apparently silent when Johnson attacked the Labor opposition over the prime minister’s questions. Some shook their heads.
Sunak and Javid quit minutes after Johnson apologized for hiring a senior Conservative who stepped down last week after two people accused him of being intoxicated.
Former Education Secretary Zhawi was immediately given the finances and accepted the difficult task ahead.
“You don’t go into this job to lead an easy life,” Jahavi told Sky News.
Days of changing the explanation followed the resignation of Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher.
Downing Street was the first to deny that Johnson was aware of prior allegations against Pincher when he was appointed in February.
But as of Tuesday, a former top civil servant said that defense had collapsed after Johnson, as foreign minister, was told of another incident involving his aide in 2019.
Children and Families Minister Will Quins stepped down early Wednesday, saying he had been misinformed before defending the government in a round of media interviews on Monday.
Tory critics said Pincher’s case had put many people on edge, accusing the prime minister of turning a blind eye to sexual assault.
Johnson survived a no-confidence vote among Conservative lawmakers only a month ago, which would usually mean he cannot be challenged again for another year.
But the influential “1922 committee” of non-ministerial Tory lawmakers is reportedly seeking to change the rules, with its executive committee announcing Wednesday that it will elect a new lineup of members next week.
A Snap Savanta Comres poll indicated Wednesday that three out of five Conservative voters say Johnson cannot win public trust, while 72 percent of all voters think he should resign.
– ‘Local difficulties’ –
Rees-Mogg, a cabinet loyalist and Johnson’s “minister of Brexit opportunities”, dismissed the resignations as “small local difficulties”.
But Sunak’s departure, in particular, was disappointing news for Johnson, amid policy differences over the survival crisis in Britain.
The prime minister, who received a police fine for the so-called “partygate” case, faces a parliamentary inquiry into whether he lied to lawmakers about the revelations.
Pincher’s departure from the Whip’s office—an accusation of imposing party discipline and standards—was another allegation of sexual misconduct by the Tories in recent months, recalling the government of John Major in the 1990s as a “sleaze”. remembered.
Two Conservative lawmakers were forced to resign in recent weeks, forcing by-elections won by opposition parties focused the minds of critics of the party who voted on Johnson’s stay. Afraid of making extensive connections with
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