Leading British newspapers today paint a bleak picture for the prime minister. Two more resignations today in the government of Boris Johnson, in the wake of the setbacks for the management of the British Tory Prime Minister of the Pincher scandal, the latest in a long series. Will Quince, deputy minister responsible so far for the Family and Childhood dossier, and Laura Trott, hitherto ministerial aide (something less than undersecretary) for Transport, announced their departure from the team. Positions that Johnson immediately filled with an immediate mini reshuffle, decided for now – as reiterated today by the new chancellor Nadim Zahawi – to try to move forward.
In his letter of resignation to the prime minister, Quince – who only on Monday had renewed his confidence in the premier – explained that he was leaving the executive with “great sadness” after Johnson admitted – after initially denying it – that he learned that Chris Pincher, former deputy parliamentary leader Tory – had been investigated in the past for inappropriate behavior towards men. More than half a dozen dropouts in junior executive positions, alongside the resignations of two super ministers such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the owner of Health, Sajid Javid: yesterday Bim Afolami resigned as vice president of the party , and Andrew Murrison, as a trade correspondent with Morocco. Two Conservative Party private secretaries have left, Jonathan Gullis and Saqib Bhatti.
The premier is facing the deepest crisis since winning the 2019 general elections. And today a day of fire is expected, first the usual ‘question time’ in the House of Commons and then before the Liaison Committee, the powerful Tory committee that brings together the presidents of all parliamentary committees.
Gb: Boris Johnson in the balance, 2 key government ministers resign
Johnson’s delicate day
The premier today is expected to have a very delicate day: at noon at the question time in Parliament and later in the afternoon he will have to address the questions of the Liaison Committee, a powerful commission within the Tories and clarify a series of issues, not just the government’s position on Ukraine and the impact of the war on the country, but also the problem of the rising cost of living. Then all the questions about his integrity in politics, the partygate and his appointment of the much-talked-about Chris Pincher as Conservative deputy leader in Parliament, given the complaints about his questionable conduct (complaints BoJo had been aware of for years.
The newspapers: “Game over”
“Game over”, is the title of the Times, which adds that for Johnson it is “a mistake” to continue to cling to power, because “he has lost the confidence of his party and of the country”. For the Times, “there is no conceivable chance that Johnson, who failed to secure the support of 148 MPs in last month’s vote of confidence, can regain the effective leadership the country needs in a period of national crisis. acute. Each day he stays deepens the feeling of chaos. For the good of the country, he should leave, ”adds the Times. On the inside pages, columnist Iain Martin describes the chaos that reigns in the government, expressing limited hopes for the new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi. “There was a mad rush on the part of Boris’ team, which tried to identify a person, any one, prepared to accept the second most important political office in the country and the risk of being the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the shortest term of history », writes Martin. And he adds that former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace are cited as Johnson’s potential successors.
In the Telegraph, former Brexit minister David Frost says Johnson should step down; otherwise he risks “dragging the party and the government down with him”, he adds, noting that after yesterday’s resignation “other ministers must now assess whether they are really happy with the current direction of travel”. The Daily Express describes Johnson as “wounded” but “released”, with the front page listing the premier as fighting to deliver on his promise to cut taxes. Daily Mail columnist Stephen Glover praises the prime minister as “an outstanding politician, who stands head and shoulders above most other cabinet members.” Johnson will be adored for accomplishing Brexit, “despite the” big flaw “of” reluctance to tell the truth, which sets him apart in a profession not famous for his sincerity. ” But after all that has happened, and despite his successes, he now looks like a doomed prime minister. However, what a tragedy and what a waste, ”Glover writes. Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee believes that “the only questions that remain” are how and when the prime minister will leave.
Poll: 7 out of 10 Britons say goodbye to Bojo. He resists: “To hell with”
Seven out of 10 Britons believe that the British premier should leave: this is the result of a survey carried out by YouGov on over 3 thousand people. But the premier appears willing to resist and would also have told his men about him. According to The Times, to a co-worker who asked him if he wants to leave, he replied: “To hell with it.”