contents
Boris Johnson survived the no-confidence vote late Monday night. But many are still calling for his resignation.
It is hardly surprising that members of the opposition in particular see Boris Johnson’s imminent end as prime minister, or are even openly calling for his resignation. Opposition leader Keir Starmer said the British public was fed up with a Prime Minister who promises a lot but never keeps those promises. The Labor leader vowed on Twitter that his party would get Britain back on the rails.
Ian Blackford from the Scottish National Party writes explicitly that Boris Johnson should be an “ex-Prime Minister” because he no longer has the support of the people.
But there are also harsh reactions from our own ranks. Jesse Norman, who was Secretary of State in the Ministry of Finance from 2019 to 2021 and thus a long-time companion of Johnson, said – already on Monday morning – that he could no longer support him. Among other things, he justified this by saying that the prime minister was endangering the unity of his country.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen tweeted on Tuesday morning that Boris Johnson should “honour” him.
Shortly before, Bridgen had also shared on Twitter a post from former Conservative party leader and Foreign Secretary Lord William Hague, who also recommended Johnson’s resignation because the prime minister had suffered a greater defeat than any of his predecessors.
Deep down, he should recognize this and consider exiting in a way that will spare the party and country such anguish and uncertainty.
Although Johnson won the vote on Monday evening, the damage to the prime minister’s office is great, Hague told the Times. And further: “Deep down, he should recognize this and remember to get out in a way that spares the party and country such torment and uncertainty.”
Companions want to look ahead
A further vote of no confidence is now ruled out for a period of twelve months under the current rules of the British Conservatives. Johnson confidants therefore demanded that criticism of the prime minister’s leadership role be drawn a line under.
Legend:
On Monday, protesters gathered in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, demanding that the prime minister be punished. Inside, meanwhile, the no-confidence vote was taking place.
key stone
“I think it’s important to remember that we are only able to deliver if we are united,” Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News after the vote. It is now time to look ahead and to be able to devote time to topics such as the economy and the rapidly rising inflation.
We are on the side of the hard working Brits and we will get to work.
Johnson himself said on Tuesday morning before the cabinet meeting that he would meet his senior ministers the same day. At the same time, he promised to continue with the work. “This is a government that implements what matters most to the people of this country,” Johnson said in a statement released by his office ahead of the cabinet meeting.
“We are on the side of the hard working Brits and we will get to work.” He will use the meeting to present his plans for the coming weeks. Among other things, this involves improving health care and police work as well as new guidelines to reduce the costs of childcare.