The British Prime Minister announces his resignation from the leadership of the Conservative Party after speaking with Queen Elizabeth II
“The process to elect a new leader begins now.” Boris Johnson has publicly confirmed his resignation from the leadership of the Conservative Party, as well as his intention to continue leading the British Government until October. Before dozens of journalists gathered in front of Downing Street, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of new ministers and senior officials to replace the more than fifty direct collaborators of his cabinet who have resigned in the last twenty-four hours and who will work on an interim basis in the coming months in a “unity government”.
Before the gaze of his wife, Carrie, who was carrying the couple’s daughter in her arms, Johnson admitted that “no one is indispensable” and lamented his resignation with a personal reflection: “It’s sad to have to leave the best job in the world” . He has also thanked voters for his 2019 electoral victory, which has allowed him to “live an incredible term.”
Before the statement, the Prime Minister spoke with Queen Elizabeth II and gave her the reasons why he considers his resignation necessary, but also his favorable opinion to continue in office until the fall, both “out of courtesy” and to give continuity to the Executive in a period of strong economic crisis. However, it is still not certain that the ‘premier’ retains the head of the British Government. A sector of his party believes that his immediate departure from the cabinet cannot be renounced given the volume of the scandals surrounding him and his replacement by an interim prime minister until October. In fact, Johnson’s collaborators had asked the Republican Party to come to Downing Street to attend Johnson’s speech as a sign of support, but only a few members have been seen outside the Executive headquarters. In any case, Johnson has already gone ahead to make new appointments to fill the ministries and other government departments.
The statement closes a politically turbulent morning. Downing Street has kept communication channels closed from the first hour, while some fellow ranks of the still ‘premier’ begin to comment privately that “Johnson is already history.” The news closes a rapid crisis, lasting just 36 hours, but with the characteristics of a devastating hurricane that has been capable of bringing down a politician who has survived huge crises such as ‘partygate’, the challenge to the EU with its rejection of certain Brexit agreements or erratic management of the pandemic.
The weight of successive scandals has been greater than Boris Johnson’s efforts to stay in office. The British prime minister resigns overwhelmed by the chain of resignations from his cabinet, fifty in less than a day, and pressure from his own party, fed up with the ‘premier”s particular way of managing the government and fearful of the bill that the controversy can happen at the polls.
The latest upheaval, unleashed after nearly a week of lies and misinformation about the Conservative leader’s relationship with his political ally and alleged sexual predator, Chris Pincher, made it clear on Wednesday that it was too high a wall, even for this athlete. of political crises. Up to four ministers and almost fifty senior officials handed in their letters of resignation due to “lack of confidence” in the head of government. However, the worst, the factor that definitively marks Johnson’s exit door, has been the lack of spare parts, the impossibility of finding substitutes who would like to fill the vacancies left by the unemployed. It is then that Boris Johnson has realized that he is alone.
It is perfectly summed up by the behavior of Brandon Lewis, secretary of Northern Ireland, with whose retirement the Downing Street tenant had breakfast this Thursday. According to ‘The Times’, after a long conversation with the ‘premier’ in which he was unable to convince him to leave, Lewis left, but not before warning him: “I have given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt. We are, however, past the point of no return. I can’t sacrifice my personal integrity.” Other comments have been equally devastating. “The prime minister should resign as public and parliamentary trust is clearly gone, and given the importance of integrity in public life,” Technology Minister Chris Philp said. “Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has left us no other option,” said Pensions Minister Guy Opperman.
Johnson will remain at Downing Street until the leadership change in the fall, according to the BBC. Before the electoral process will be processed to elect the next prime minister, with a first screening within the parliamentary group and the opportunity after the ‘tories’ affiliates vote for one of two finalist candidates. In case the party accepts the terms proposed by Johnson, it remains to be resolved what will happen to the cabinet after the cascade of resignations. One possibility that opens up is to offer the resigners the possibility of returning to their posts for a “patriotic” issue or the entry of new politicians, who they would accept as a government transition.
However, some ‘tory’ members advocate a transfer of the reins of power with immediate effect and the appointment of a temporary prime minister. That role could fall to Dominic Raab, current Minister of Justice and number two of the Executive, who replaced Johnson when he was hospitalized with Covid-19, among other occasions. “We need a new leader as soon as possible. Someone who can rebuild trust, heal the country and set a new, reasonable and consistent economic plan to help families,” tweeted Business and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng.
On the other hand, the opposition celebrated the demolition of the prime minister and criticized the delay of the talkers in dealing the blow. “He has never been able to rule. He is responsible for lies, scandals and fraud on an industrial scale. All his accomplices should be ashamed, ”said Labor leader Keir Starmer. The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, agreed that the conservatives “have been supporting” Johnson for too long, when he urged “focus on the cost of living crisis.”
Meanwhile, the British pound rallied on currency markets, rising 0.6% against the dollar and 0.3% against the euro as Johnson’s resignation was announced.