Britain’s Johnson In Crisis As Ministers Resign

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

LONDON (Worthy News) – Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mounting pressure to resign Tuesday after the finance and health ministers stepped down to protest his leadership style.

Finance minister Rishi Sunak and health minister Sajid Javid stepped down in what appeared to be a choreographed release of letters to the prime minister.

The resignations came as Johnson apologized for “not realizing” that an ex-minister in charge of pastoral care was unfit for a government job amid complaints of sexual misconduct against him.

Both had publicly supported Johnson during months of scandal over his administration’s conduct and a damning report into parties at his Downing Street office and residence that broke strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Sunak, who had reportedly clashed with the prime minister in private about spending, said: “For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly.”

“However, the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently, and seriously. I recognize this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for, and that is why I am resigning.”

STEPPING DOWN

Javid said he stepped down as Health Secretary because many lawmakers and the public had “lost confidence” in Johnson’s ability to govern in the national interest.

“I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too,” Javid wrote in a letter to Johnson.

The latest resignations added to pressure on Johnson to step down, with the British Broadcasting Corporation quoting an unidentified close ally as saying: “It will all be over by this time tomorrow. No PM can survive the resignation of two senior cabinet ministers like that.”

Their resignations came just minutes after Johnson went on television to apologize for appointing lawmaker Christopher Pincher to a role involved in offering pastoral care in the Conservative Party.

Pincher’s resignation last Thursday triggered days of a changing narrative from Downing Street over what the prime minister knew of the deputy chief whip’s behavior and when he knew it.

With scandals mounting, the former deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine – who challenged Margaret Thatcher for the Conservative leadership in 1990 – predicted the Conservatives would abandon Johnson. He said, “The Tory party,” as the Conservatives are also known, “has an instinct for survival. And they know that under Boris, they will not win the next election.”

Latest Worthy News