- According to media reports, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected calls for the resignation of some cabinet members.
- So far, more than three dozen Conservative officials have resigned in protest at Johnson.
A delegation of cabinet members is said to have visited Prime Minister Johnson at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday evening and asked him to resign. This was reported by several media unanimously.
However, Johnson told his cabinet colleagues that he would not go, the Sky News broadcaster reported in the evening, citing party and government circles. Otherwise, the country will be thrown into chaos and the Conservatives will be punished in the next general election, Johnson reportedly said.
When asked by a party colleague whether he was ever considering stepping down, Johnson said in parliament on Wednesday afternoon: “The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances, when he has a strong mandate, is to carry on. And that’s what I’m going to do.” He also said it would be irresponsible to resign now given the Ukraine war and domestic issues. “And frankly, new elections are the last thing this country needs,” Johnson added.
Frankly, new elections are the last thing this country needs.
An affair over allegations of sexual assault by Chris Pincher, a leading parliamentary group member, triggered the current government crisis. However, Johnson again apologized for putting his fellow party member Pincher in an important parliamentary position despite being aware of allegations of sexual harassment. However, the Prime Minister claimed that he acted immediately when he learned of new allegations against Pincher.
Another vote of no confidence is imminent
The calls for a new vote of no confidence in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are getting louder. The conservative politician only just survived a no-confidence vote in his group a month ago. According to Tory party rules, no retrial may be made for 12 months after the vote.
But the rules could soon be changed: Johnson must expect another vote of no confidence from next week.
Several British media reported that the responsible 1922 committee of the Conservative Party had not yet changed the corresponding rules at its meeting on Wednesday. Rather, a new committee leader should be elected on Monday. But since Johnson’s opponents within the party are likely to gain the upper hand, a rule change is then expected.