“BoJo” still a little more fragile? The British Prime Minister, disowned for several months for his management of the Covid-19 and by a series of scandals, suffered another hard blow this weekend. Saturday evening, the newspaper Mail on Sunday revealed the resignation of Brexit Minister David Frost. “You are on the wrong track, Boris!” wrote the former Brexit negotiator with the European Union, in a letter sent to Downing Street a week ago, according to the daily. Late on Saturday evening, the Prime Minister’s services confirmed the resignation of the Secretary of State for Brexit, publishing the latter’s letter and the Head of Government’s response.
The announcement of David Frost’s resignation has had the effect of a bomb, while the Prime Minister has already been weakened for several months. The ex-Mr. Brexit of the government mentioned, in his letter, his “disillusionment” as to the path taken by the current Conservative government on divorce with the European Union. For several months, negotiations with the EU on the implementation of post-Brexit provisions have been slipping, especially in Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson is also subject to challenges from his own camp, about his management of the health crisis. The Conservative Party also suffered a crushing defeat last week in the by-election in North Shropshire, one of its strongholds in the west of the country.
“Total chaos”
After his resignation was leaked to the press, David Frost announced in his letter that his departure would be immediate. According to Mail on Sunday, Boris Johnson had first succeeded in convincing him to stay until January. Several political disagreements, concerning the restrictions to fight against the coronavirus, the increase in taxes or the policy followed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, would explain his departure. “You know my concerns about the current direction of things”, wrote the ex-negotiator, stressing that, with Brexit assured, “The challenge for the government now is to realize the opportunities it gives us”. The Prime Minister, for his part, said to himself “sorry” of the resignation of his minister.
In the ranks of the Labor opposition, reactions were quick. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Angela Rayner reacted on Twitter, saying the government was “In total chaos precisely when the country goes through weeks of uncertainty”. “Boris Johnson is not up to the task. We deserve better than this buffoonery ”, she added. Members of the majority have also expressed their concerns, like Andrew Bridgen: the Prime Minister, who is in a “Decisive moment”, must “Change or go”, he told Times Radio. On Twitter, this ardent Brexiter highlighted that the head of government was “Running out of time and friends to keep the promises and discipline of a true Conservative government.”