Great Britain: two new resignations in the government of Boris Johnson

Two new members of the British government announced their resignation on Wednesday the day after the resounding departures of the Ministers of Health and Finance, further weakening Prime Minister Boris Johnson entangled in a wave of scandals. The Secretary of State for Children and Families, Will Quince, announced his departure, judging that he had “no choice” after having repeated “in good faith” in the media elements provided by the Prime Minister’s services “which turned out to be inaccurate”. Laura Trott resigned from her post as assistant to the Secretary of State for Transport, judging that confidence was “lost”.

A new scandal

These resignations come in the wake of a new scandal involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government: the resignation of Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher, in charge of parliamentary discipline for Conservative MPs, accused of sexual touching by several men.

With great sadness and regret, I have this morning tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister after I accepted and repeated assurances on Monday to the media which have now been found to be inaccurate.

I wish my successor well – it is the best job in government. pic.twitter.com/65EOmHd47p

— Will Quince MP (@willquince) July 6, 2022

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson affirmed on Wednesday his determination to “continue” the mandate entrusted to him, despite the cascading resignations in the government which weaken him against a backdrop of repeated scandals. “We will continue to fulfill the mandate entrusted to me,” said the head of government during a weekly session of questions in Parliament, which was particularly electric. “A Prime Minister’s job in difficult circumstances, when he has been given a colossal mandate, is to carry on, and that is what I will do,” he added.

Towards a new no-confidence motion against Boris Johnson?

For the moment, these resignations do not force him to leave but it may not last long. If other ministers in key positions slam the door, it will become very difficult for Boris Johnson to continue to govern. It’s not yet the case. Those who leave, almost all point the finger at Boris Johnson, his personality and his integrity are questioned within the Conservative Party.

Several elected officials are therefore calling for a change in the rules in order to be able to trigger a new motion of censure against him. Because only a vote of no confidence initiated by his camp could formally oblige Boris Johnson to leave. The British have had enough too. According to a poll conducted on Tuesday: 54% of voters who voted for Boris Johnson in 2019 now want him to leave.