Boris Johnson To Quit As UK Prime Minister Over Scandals

Boris Johnson To Quit As UK Prime Minister Over Scandals

By Agencies

Boris Johnson is to resign today Thursday as Conservative leader but will push to stay on as prime minister until autumn, prompting a backlash from some Tory MPs who say he has to go now.

Johnson resigned after an extraordinary standoff with his cabinet, which ended after Nadhim Zahawi, his new chancellor, told him to quit. By that point, more than 50 ministers had walked out, citing his mishandling of a string of scandals and failure of ethics.

Borris Johnson speaking to the house of commons (curtesy photot)

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister will make a statement to the country today.”

Johnson is believed to have spoken to the Queen to tell her of his plans. However, his push to stay on as prime minister until the autumn while a Conservative leadership contest takes place provoked fury among MPs.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, said the party needs “a new leader as soon as practicable”.

Borris Johnson senior UK gov’t ministers Rishi Sunak & Sajid Javid that resigned early this week (curtesy Photo)

“Someone who can rebuild trust, heal the country, and set out a new, sensible and consistent economic approach to help families,” he added.

Others suggested Johnson should quit immediately, calling for a caretaker leader such as Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, or Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor.

Backbencher Simon Hoare said: “Ministers resigned because of the PM. The Party lost confidence *because* of the PM. It is beyond credulity that Mr Johnson can stay in office even pro tem. New constitutional territory but he has to go and go means go.”

Nick Gibb, a former minister, also said the prime minister must resign his office. “After losing so many ministers, he has lost the trust and authority required to continue,” he said.

UK Prime minister Borris Johnson saying bye bye 

George Freeman, who resigned as science minister on Thursday morning, agreed saying: “We need ministers back at their desks. Now PM has finally done the decent thing he needs to hand in the seals of office, apologise to Her Majesty, allow her to appoint a Caretaker under whom Ministers can serve, so the Conservative Party can choose a new leader properly.”

Two ex-ministers also said it was not possible for Johnson to stay until the autumn. One said: “He needs to be gone by tonight. Raab should take over.” Another said: “He needs to hand in the seals of office today and go, so we can have a caretaker PM.”

In farcical exchanges in the House of Commons, the paymaster general, Michael Ellis, told MPs “the business of government continues”, while urging them to await the prime minister’s words.

“I cannot pre-empt the prime minister’s statement, and the house and the nation will hear more, imminently. In the meantime, the business of government continues, supported by our great civil service,” he said, insisting there was a “rich reserve” of MPs ready to replace the scores of ministers who had resigned.

Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, told him: “I hate to break it to the minister, but we don’t have a functioning government,” adding: “The chaos of the last three days is more than just petty Tory infighting. These actions have serious consequences for the running of our country.”

She pointed to 11 bill committees due to take place on Thursday to scrutinise legislation, some of which had had to be cancelled because of a lack of frontbenchers to serve on them.

UK Prime minister Borris Johnson

Johnson’s exit follows three years of scandals, including fury over his handling of harassment allegations against Pincher, the deputy chief whip; a police fine over lockdown parties in Downing Street; attempts to change the standards system; and accusations of breaking international law.

The revolt began on Tuesday evening with the resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak as health secretary and chancellor respectively.

Johnson faced the prospect of a second vote of no confidence as soon as next week, with elections to the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee due to be held on Monday and likely to result in a change to the rules.

The final straw for Johnson appeared to be the loss of Zahawi’s public support. On Wednesday night, No 10 had been briefing that the new chancellor was on board with launching a joint economic plan with Johnson next week, with No 10 confirming that Zahawi was still willing to work with him.

But on Thursday morning, Zahawi released a public letter saying he was “heartbroken” that Johnson was not listening to his advice as a friend of over 30 years that he must resign.

“Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now,” he said, but stopped short of resigning himself.

Michelle Donelan, the education secretary appointed this week, also resigned, saying the cabinet needed to force Johnson’s hand.

She followed Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, who resigned on Thursday morning.

The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, said it was right that Johnson has gone but accused cabinet ministers of being complicit in his administration.

“It is good news for the country that Boris Johnson has resigned,” he said. “But it should have happened long ago. He was always unfit for office.

“He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale. And all those who have been complicit should be utterly ashamed.”

Boris Johnson’s position looks increasingly precarious following a spate of resignations, byelections defeats and nationwide dismay at the Partygate affair. (Curtesy The Guardian)

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