Boris Johnson has finally agreed to step down as UK Prime Minister after more than 50 resignations from his cabinet in response to multiple scandals.
According to the BBC, Johnson said he will continue to work until the fall, when a new Conservative Party leader is elected. President 10 confirmed that the Prime Minister will release a more detailed statement on the country later today.
The British leader’s hold on power began last month after he narrowly won a vote of no confidence. On Tuesday, two senior cabinet ministers, Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, resigned in protest over allegations of misconduct against the prominent Conservative MP.
A series of government resignations and letters of censorship followed, and eventually a group of conservatives and cabinet ministers told the prime minister he had to go. But against all normal protocol, Johnson went ahead with power, plunging into number 10.
This morning, two senior cabinet ministers he appointed yesterday, new foreign minister Nadim Zahavi and education secretary Michelle Donnellan, also demanded that he leave, with Donnellan resigning in the last half hour. Many commentators have compared Johnson’s behavior to Donald Trump’s refusal to grant the election to Joe Biden.
The British media is overloaded with quick updates, with radio, television, social media and news sites abuzz with political drama. The schedule is interrupted to cover the developments.
There has been growing condemnation and agitation in the British right-wing Conservative Party over a series of incidents of Johnson’s misconduct within its ranks, including the Partygate affair, when various parties were held in the government center during the Covid blockade.
In the latter case, Johnson was forced to apologize for keeping former Conservative Congressman Chris Pincher in his post amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
The recently fired leader vowed to press this week during a fiery Prime Minister interrogation session in the British parliament that included his former health secretary, Sajid David, calling on more members of his cabinet to take action against the prime minister. The deputies then reprimanded him during the committee meeting.
Javid and Sunak’s resignations were particularly significant as both ministers remained loyal to Johnson through various scandals.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, the architect of Channel 4’s privatization, has remained loyal to Johnson all along.
The UK is currently experiencing political and economic turmoil amid a collapsing government and cost of living crisis caused by record inflation, pandemic and Brexit.
Source: Deadline
