United Kingdom: Boris Johnson resigns as Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will finally step down. He announced it after a long negotiation, after 24 chaotic hours that embarrassed the kingdom, with 52 resignations of his ministers and a prime minister who refused to resign. But he intends to stay until the Tory conference in October and parliamentary voices are already being heard warning that he must leave now. The kingdom is at risk if it remains.

Johnson is writing his speech “in person” and will speak to the country when the official announcement of his resignation is “imminent”.

Negotiations continue because, in its harsh relations with the 1922 Committee, the party’s highest authority ruled that it can remain in office “until the Conservative conference in October”. An impossible date for conservative politicians in the face of the profound crisis in which the country is submerged. Boris is left alone and without ministers. He cannot lead the government when the country faces a cost of living crisis, soaring fuel prices and shortages caused by Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

Great Britain is in a profound constitutional crisis, which will finally fall into the hands of Queen Elizabeth: fundamental decisions are expected in the country on tax cuts and the cost of living, which Boris wants to impose and which the party opposes

custodian minister

Conservative deputies do not accept his stay. They now want a “guardian” prime minister in power to end this Shakespearean tragedy, which is destroying the country’s reputation and ridiculing its institutions. But the decision will be a request from the queen, to which Boris Johnson must inform him that he resigns and she will decide the caretaker.

There is talk of Dominique Raab, deputy prime minister and former chancellor, as his temporary replacement, or of Theresa May, the former prime minister, whom Boris has finally managed to oust in the middle of the Brexit negotiations.

Despite the 52 resignations of his ministers, youth and officials to leave, there are key ministers who have remained in office for security reasons. One of them is Ben Wallace, the defense minister, who has withdrawn his support but remains in office because of the war in Ukraine and “to keep the country safe”.

High conservatives are already wondering if the prime minister can stay until October.

A former government minister who served in Boris Johnson’s cabinet said that “no one thinks the prime minister can stay in office until October.”

Chaos and differences

There is likely to be a lot of disagreement on this issue, particularly given the risk of Johnson making decisions in key areas such as taxes and Northern Ireland, which potential successors may oppose. Another difference between the Conservatives and Boris is ideological. They believe he has gone “left” due to subsidies in the Covid crisis.

A former minister, who resigned a few hours ago, has already posted on Twitter asking for an interim prime minister over the summer.

Labor Vice President Angela Rayner will ask an urgent question about how the government works in about 40 minutes.

He will ask Michael Ellis, the cabinet minister, if he will make a statement on the matter. There are no more ministers, so it can continue to function.

Another surreal image right now, amidst the chaos, is Nadine Dorries, Secretary of Culture and one of Boris Johnson’s strongest supporters, is in the House of Commons answering questions. In Strange Scenes, she talks about the gigabit Internet, instead of her boss resigning.

legacy destroyed

Will Walden, Boris Johnson’s former press officer, said: “All I can say is ‘thank God.’

“He finally did the right thing. But what a farce. To be dragged around kicking and screaming like him is a shame,” he said. She clarified: “It’s all absolutely useless. It was already written on the wall.”

Walden said he expects Johnson to make a “sober” statement later. “I hope that when we see the prime minister later, instead of the usual nonsense … we won’t have the usual complacent Boris. We will have a sober statement,” he said. “Plus that we have an orderly transition,” he asked.

“What we saw last night was beyond farce: dipping your hands in blood, revenge against Michael Gove. It’s pathetic. It came dangerously close to reaching a point where it would destroy his entire legacy,” said Walden, who he was one of his trusted men.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, reacted with disbelief at the news that Boris Johnson will step down but could stay in office until there is a new prime minister.

“The idea that conservatives can make Boris Johnson the keeper of anything is frankly ridiculous. The man has never cared in his life,” he tweeted.

The opposition wants a change of government

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer is seizing the moment to demand not only a new Tory leader, but also a “real change of government”.

He said Johnson was “always unfit for work” and was responsible for “industrial-scale lies, scandals and fraud.”

Several ministers, including cabinet members, explain why they remained in office, largely due to the need to keep departments running.

Secretary for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey said: “I asked to speak to the Prime Minister last night and I was still hoping to do so today. I fully understand the concerns of colleagues and the dire situation we are in now. The wheels of the the government must continue to run, especially in DWP which helps the most vulnerable in society ”.

“DWP must do its utmost to support them, particularly with the cost of living payment which will begin to be paid next week as part of our housing aid,” he said.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said he will remain in office. “Some of us have an obligation to keep this country safe no matter who the prime minister is,” he said.

Minister for Safe and Legal Migration Kevin Foster said: “There are roles in the government that deal with day-to-day operational matters. Today I have to hear and deal with immigration cases involving the most difficult circumstances, which cannot simply be left alone. without listening and without trying, I continue on this basis.

Congressman George Freeman, who was a minister until this morning, is calling for an interim prime minister. He doesn’t think he can wait until the Conservative Party conference in the fall for a change.

“Boris Johnson must hand over the seals of his office, apologize to Her Majesty and advise her to call an interim Prime Minister. Hire today so that ministers can get back to work and we can elect a new Conservative leader to try and repair the damage. ” and rebuild trust.

The name lottery has already begun on who will replace Boris Johnson in the conservative leadership.

There is talk of Jeremy Hunt, former chancellor, who with him lost the last leadership, of the current vice-premier Dominique Raab, of the former chancellor Rishi Sunak, who with his resignation started the crisis for Boris, of the former secretary of the Defense and former military officer Penny Mordaunt, former health secretary Sajid Javid and current chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who came to Britain as an Iraqi refugee without speaking English, and former Afghanistan veteran Tom Tugendhat.

Britain is experiencing the most spectacular and tragic hours of its political resignation. Without order, with a prime minister infatuated with remaining in office and in the midst of chaos. And there is still the resignation and the speech of Boris Johnson, a journalist by profession, who is writing his legacy on how it will go down in history.