Political tension rises in Great Britain, Boris Johnson’s government loses pieces. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and health minister Sajid Javid resigned in open criticism of the conservative prime minister’s management.
“The public rightly expects the government to be conducted in a proper, competent and serious way. I think it is worth fighting for these standards and that is why I am resigning,” said Sunak. His colleague from Health is even harder. The British “expect integrity from their government,” but voters now believe the Johnson administration is not competent, “nor is it acting in the interest of the nation,” he said.
Le sensational resignations of two important ministers, come after the premier was forced to make a humiliating apology about handling the case of Chris Pincher, the deputy conservative group leader removed after he was sued for groping two men at a historic London club. Johnson said he named Pincher in his post of him after he “forgot” that he had already received complaints in 2019 about his inappropriate behavior of him.
“I think it was a mistake and I apologize,” said the premier, who had already publicly apologized for the partygate, the Downing street party scandal during the Covid lockdown.
Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in early June among the deputies of his Conservative party, but 41% voted against him, undermining his authority. The loss of two extra seats in June then led to the resignation of the party chairman, Oliver Dowden. The resignations of Javid, who previously ran for Conservative leadership, and of Sunak, considered a possible successor to Johnson, now further jeopardize the position of the premier, who has so far ruled out his resignation.
The controversial resignations of Javid and Sunak, which appear to be coordinated, have sparked a flurry of speculations about who may be next to leave. Sources quoted by the media claim that Key ministers such as Liz Truss (Foreign), Ben Wallace (Defense) Dominic Raab (vice premier and titular of Justice), and Priti Patel (Interior) intend to remain in their posts. Culture Minister Nadine Dorries tweeted that she is 100% with Johnson.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of the conservative party, Bin Afolami, announced his resignation on live TV. And the envoy for trade in Morocco, Andrew Murrison, also slammed the door.