Sunak in a difficult position
“Partygate” ends with a symbolic clap for Boris Johnson
6/20/2023 5:51 am
The British House of Commons approves a committee report on ex-Prime Minister Johnson’s “Partygate” lies with a clear majority. Incumbent Sunak is abstaining, as is most of the Tory faction. You could soon be sitting between all chairs.
British Parliament thinks former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a liar. In the evening in London, the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to accept the conclusions of a parliamentary committee on the statements made by the then head of government in the “Partygate” affair. Only seven MPs from Johnson’s Conservative Party voted against the resolution, but 118 voted in favor. The majority of the 352-strong Tory faction abstained, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and most of the prominent cabinet members. A total of 354 MPs agreed, the House of Commons has 650 seats. The vote is rather symbolic and has little direct impact because Johnson had previously resigned his mandate.
The opposition accused Prime Minister Sunak, who is blamed by Johnson’s supporters for his end, of weak leadership. “Sunak promised integrity, but when push came to shove, he was too weak to even show up,” said Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper. Sunak had not wanted to publicly commit to a decision and excused this by saying that he did not want to influence the vote.
In its report, the mostly conservative parliamentary committee came to the conclusion that the then prime minister had repeatedly lied to the lower house in the “Partygate” affair about forbidden celebrations during the corona pandemic. Johnson, who turned 59 on the day of the debate, preempted the recommended 90-day suspension from Parliament by resigning from office. With the vote, the lower house withdrew his parliamentary pass, which former MPs are actually entitled to. Johnson had criticized the report and insulted the committee members.
According to polls, Johnson remains more popular than Sunak among the Conservative party base. Many Tory members consider the populist to be a gifted campaigner, without whom the party would have no chance in the general election planned for 2024. Due to the resignation of Johnson and three other Tories from the House of Commons, there will be by-elections in these constituencies in just a few weeks. Should the Conservatives lose their mandates – as polls suggest – the pressure on Sunak is likely to increase further.
Johnson has already made it clear that he does not consider his political career to be over. “Winston Churchill only became Prime Minister at the age of 65,” he is said to have repeatedly said to confidants, according to information from the Sunday Times newspaper, referring to his great role model. There is speculation that Johnson could try to run in another constituency for 2024 – against Sunak’s wishes. If he were then re-elected to the House of Commons, he would also get his parliamentary pass back.
Sunak before enormous tasks
First of all, the ex-prime minister is likely to pester the incumbent head of government with loud statements from the sidelines. Shortly after leaving Parliament, the conservative tabloid Daily Mail announced that Johnson would write as a columnist in the future. The politician is reportedly making £1m a year for it. In his first post last Saturday, Johnson discussed the effects of a “miracle drug” for weight loss, which he says is also used by cabinet members.
According to observers, Prime Minister Sunak is now hoping that the vote will put an end to the lengthy “Partygate” debate. In view of the ailing NHS health service and the rising cost of living due to high inflation and rising mortgage rates, numerous problems await the head of government.
But the consequences of the scandal-ridden Johnson years are likely to continue to haunt Sunak. Recently, there have been demands that he should subsequently reject two of Johnson’s proposals for promotions. A video released over the weekend shows staff members of Shaun Bailey, then Conservative mayoral candidate for London, breaking corona rules at a lockdown party. Bailey is to become a member of the House of Lords at Johnson’s request. A man featured in the video is set to receive a prestigious honorary degree.