In the crisis surrounding British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the prime minister loses more cabinet members. After Health Minister Sajid Javid, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and dozens of Conservative MPs left on Tuesday, Simon Hart, the British Minister for Wales, announced his resignation late Wednesday evening. Johnson also fired his Minister for Works and Housing, Michael Gove. Total have in the past few days more than 40 members of the government gave up their posts.
Hart praised the PM for his “energy, vision, determination and humor” on Twitter, but went on to write: “I was desperately hoping to avoid writing this letter, but unfortunately there seems to be no other option stay.”
He has never been a “big fan” of the idea that ministerial resignations are the best way to force change. Colleagues would have done their best, privately and publicly, to help Johnson “turn the ship around.” Unfortunately, he feels the point has been passed where this is possible.
Johnson rejects calls for his resignation
According to media reports, Conservative Prime Minister Johnson had previously rejected calls by a number of cabinet members to resign. Among them is said to have been Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who was only appointed to his post on Tuesday. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the previously ultra-loyal Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Works and Housing Secretary Michael Gove are said to have also belonged to the delegation.
Late on Wednesday evening, Johnson then fired his longtime companion Gove, who was considered one of the heavyweights in the cabinet and has held various posts in government in recent years. He had already campaigned alongside Johnson in the 2016 election campaign for the Brexit referendum. The relationship between im and Johnsons has always been characterized by competition.
Attorney General Braverman expresses interest in Johnson’s successor
Meanwhile, the candidates for a possible successor to Johnson as party and government leader are warming up. While resigning ministers such as Javid and Sunak, as well as Secretary of State Liz Truss, have long been traded as candidates for Johnson’s legacy, Attorney General Suella Braverman is now also expressing interest in the post. She was previously seen as a supporter of Johnson, but said in an interview with broadcaster ITV that the prime minister had to resign. You can imagine running for office.