Johnson’s job as PM shaky as two senior ministers quit
(CNS): As another scandal of his own making hits UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his most senior Cabinet colleague, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have both quit. Johnson apologised on Tuesday for appointing Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip, as he finally admitted that he knew about allegations of sexual harassment against Pincher before he gave him the job. However, the two senior Cabinet ministers submitted resignation letters anyway.
Pincher is alleged to have groped two men in a private members’ club while drunk on Wednesday night, 29 June. He resigned as deputy chief whip on Thursday, having admitting that he had “drunk far too much” and “embarrassed myself and other people” that night. On Friday he was suspended from the Tory party.
However, there were allegations of previous misconduct, leading to questions about Johnson’s knowledge of them before his high profile government appointment on 8 February this year. The PM is facing accusations of dishonesty concerning what he knew and his lack of judgement in appointing Pincher in the first place.
The affair has now sparked the resignations of the two senior ministers, once some of Johnson’s closest allies. Javid resigned minutes after Johnson’s apology effort, stating in a letter posted on Twitter that it had been “an enormous privilege to serve” as the health minister “but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience”.
Minutes later, Sunak also posted his resignation letter on Twitter, in which he said the public rightly expects government to be “conducted properly, competently and seriously”. Illustrating the seriousness of his resignation, which puts Johnson’s continued position as PM on shaky ground, he wrote, “To leave ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly.”
While other Cabinet members, including Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, say they will not be quitting the government, several others are believed to be considering jumping ship.
Although Johnson survived a vote of no-confidence at the beginning of last month, 148 (41%) of the 359 Conservative MPs voted to oust him. Tory party rules prevent another no-confidence vote for 12 months, but after two by-election defeats at the end of June, there have been growing calls for Cabinet ministers to remove him as many in the party believe they cannot win another general election with Johnson as leader.
The ‘Pincher scandal’ on the back of the two by-election losses, Partygate and numerous other scandals could end Johnson’s stay at No 10, though he has made it clear previously that he will not resign as prime minister.
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Category: Politics, UK, World News
Everyone Boris was economical with the truth and morally compromised, but he was still voted in with a huge majority because he was the only politician in the UK that was willing to deliver Brexit. The only people really complaining are the media and other MPs that absolutely despise him because they are either jealous or dislike Brexit (or both). The Conservatives will get rid of him and put in some compromise candidate that will be equally morally bankrupt as Boris but just much better at lying!
“Our audiences have degenerated,” sighs Mihail Fyodorovitch. “Not to speak of ideals and all the rest of it, if only they were capable of work and rational thought! In fact, it’s a case of ‘I look with mournful eyes on the young men of today.’ ”
“Yes; they have degenerated horribly,” Katya agrees. “Tell me, have you had one man of distinction among them for the last five or ten years?”
“I don’t know how it is with the other professors, but I can’t remember any among mine.”
“I have seen in my day many of your students and young scientific men and many actors — well, I have never once been so fortunate as to meet — I won’t say a hero or a man of talent, but even an interesting man. It’s all the same grey mediocrity, puffed up with self-conceit.“ (A Dreary Story by Anton Chekhov, 1889)
Johnson is a closet remainer and undermines Brexit at every opportunity.
He’s feeling the pinch!. He has to go, he does not have 99 lives like our local bush.
‘The piglet who could weasel himself out of anything’ as they describe him has come to an end!
25 and counting…
Just another indication of the rot that has taken place in UK Government, Boris Johnson administration.
first trump, now boris….goes to show that democracy does not always work.
apples and oranges
His latest escapades suggest lack of self-awareness, control and maturity.
He broke all rules of the renowned across the world English etiquette- manners and socially appropriate behavior.
Hmmm, just shows you how shaky things are with the mother country.
PACT better watch out similar circumstances might creep up on them. PPM, in theory, might try a thing strategically.