Boris Johnson looks like he is on the edge of collapse tonight as Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, and others abruptly quit his Cabinet.
Within minutes, the Health Secretary and the Chancellor dropped bombshells about PM in a quick exchange. This was shortly after Chris Pincher’s humourous apology for his nomination of him as MP.
Sunak wrote to the PM in resignation, stating that it was impossible for him to continue as this.
He acknowledged that he may be saying goodbye to his ministry career, but he also said, “The public rightly expects government to be done properly, competently, and seriously.”
M. Javid, however, publicly doubted Mr Johnson’s integrity, competence, or ability to act in national interests.
With the double-pronged attack, the PM is left struggling to hold onto his position and anxiously waiting to see if other top ministers follow.
Dominic Raab, Deputy PM, Liz Truss Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel, and Ben Wallace Defence Secretary have stated that they are not stepping down.
It is notable that Michael Gove (who famously punched Mr Johnson in his back in order to put an end to his hopes of becoming a leader in 2016) does not seem to be leaving.
There’s been an alarming silence, however, from Nadhim Zhawi or Therese coffey.
To think about his next move, Mr Johnson is currently in Downing Street, where he has been joined by ultra-liberalist Culture Secretary Nadine Dories and Chief Whip Chris Heaton Harris.
Jacob Rees Mogg, Brexit minister was called out to bat tonight in broadcast studios. He insists that there’s no constitutional reason why the PM should be fired.
Sky News asked Mr Rees Mogg whether he’d be able to survive another Tory confidence vote.
Rees-Mogg stated that Johnson was in business as usual after his resignations and that he still hopes to beat Robert Walpole’s 21 year record at No10.
Other breaking developments tonight as the government plunges into chaos:
- Bim Afolami resigned as Tory vice chair and Andrew Murrison resigned as trade envoy for other departures that have hit the PM.
- Lord Frost was previously the key Brexit ambassador for Mr Johnson and said that Mr Sunak had done the right thing and that Mr Javid could not be changed;
- Keir Sterner gloated about the collapse of government and exhorted more people to get out.
- According to the bookies, Mr Johnson is a long shot of being No10 for this year.
Boris Johnson seems to be on edge tonight, as Rishi Javid and Sajid Jvid abruptly resigned from his Cabinet in a matter of minutes
As he searches for a way of surviving in office, Mr Johnson has returned to Downing Street.
Sunak (left) wrote the PM to resign, stating that “we can’t continue this way.” Mr Javid (right), however, publicly doubted Mr Johnson’s integrity, competence, or ability to act in national interests.
According to reports, Mr Sunak and Javid had answered the calls of Tory rebel MPs who wanted action from Cabinet Ministers regarding Mr Johnson’s latest scandal.
The PM was informed by Mr Javid that he could no longer serve in the Government in his good conscience.
“I’m instinctively a team player, but the British people have rightly expected integrity from their Government.”
The resignation was second by Mr Sajid from a Johnson government. In 2020, he quit his position as Chancellor because he was not allowed to choose his own advisers.
It was speculated that Johnson might soon resign after Mr Johnson’s double resignation.
However, Mr Raab and Mr Wallace as well as Ms Patel, Ms Truss, and Ms Patel have indicated that they will not be leaving.
George Eustice (Environment Secretary), and Therese Caffey (Work and Pensions secretary) are yet to speak out.
Tory MP, Rye SallyAnn Hart and Rye Boris Johnson, previously supported Boris Johnson during June’s confidence vote has now said that she cannot support the Prime Minister.
Tweeted her: “Considering all the new revelations made, and knowing that integrity in Parliament must be preserved, on behalf my constituents from Hastings and Rye, I can no longer support Boris Johnson for leader of Conservative Party or Prime Minister.
The PM made the admission that Mr Pincher should be fired when he learned about the accusations against him in 2019 when he served as Foreign Office minister. But, Johnson continued to appoint Pincher to other roles within the government.
When asked if it was an error, the PM replied: “I believe it was a mistake. I apologize for it.” It was a bad decision in hindsight.
“I apologize to everyone who was adversely affected by this. “I want to be clear: there is no place in the Government for anyone who acts predatoryly or abusively in their positions of power.”
Keir Starmer took advantage of Mr Johnson’s distress and asked for more resignations from Cabinet members.
Labour leader Sir Keir said that those remaining in Cabinet would become ‘nodding dog’ if it wasn’t. Shortly before Rishi Sunak’s resignation was announced, Sir Keir talked to journalists. Asking if Johnson is a pathological lie,’ Johnson replied that he was.
“What we are seeing this week is the same thing we have seen many times. Government ministers go out on the airwaves and give answers to questions. But, no sooner than they finish the media round, they realize that their answers weren’t correct because Number 10 and the Prime Minister haven’t been honest with them.
“That’s not the story of this week, even though it is, but it is every week. This is what you can see today in the Conservative Party’s disintegration. His Cabinet members must ensure that he departs office. They have the responsibility to take him out of office in national interest.
They know his character, he said he was psychologically inept of changing. It is therefore necessary to take him out.
The salford Lord McDonalds gave Mr Johnson critics more ammunition when he sent a shocking letter to a watchdog in the parliamentary chamber.