Government crisis in London: It’s getting lonely around Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Johnson continues to refuse to resign, even though he has little support in his own party. Another no-confidence vote is now becoming increasingly likely.

Yesterday, a member of the so-called Liaison Committee wanted to know how the week was going. It’s a higher-level committee in the House of Commons. A wide range of topics is usually discussed here, Ukraine, asylum policy, e-mobility. And yesterday, of course, the resignation of dozens of conservative politicians from the government. One member of parliament wanted to know how the week was going. Excellent, Johnson replied.

Outstanding, like so many other weeks, Johnson said. The reference to many other weeks is certainly appropriate. Partygate, lost by-elections, now the scandal surrounding a conservative MP who is said to have groped men. Boris Johnson’s weeks have been turbulent, so permeated by half-truths, scandals and deceptive maneuvers that even many conservatives are finding it too much.

Call for further resignations

Most recently, the scandal surrounding Chris Pincher. He is accused of sexual harassment. Johnsons knew this and nevertheless promoted the man to a high party office and later denied it. That’s why the uprising in the party now, or should one say: revolt?

After his resignation, ex-health minister Sajid Javid called on other cabinet members in parliament to leave the government. He spoke in the lower house of values, high standards that must be maintained in the spirit of democracy.

Crisis meeting at Downing Street

During the course of the day, more and more secretaries of state, conservatives with government positions, announced their resignations. And Johnson? No resignation. Not even that evening, when some ministers reconvened at Downing Street to persuade the Prime Minister to resign.

Among them is said to have been Nadhim Zahawi, the man Johnson had just appointed as finance minister to succeed the resigned Rishi Sunak. And Priti Patel, the woman who was always loyal to Johnson. Her reasoning: If no one is behind Johnson, then he just has to resign.

Johnson sticks to his hard line

Johnson saw things very differently in the evening. No resignation, he remains in office, quoted several media outlets close to the prime minister. He maintained his tough stance, as he had done all day yesterday.

Labor MP Chris Bryant summed it up quite well when questioned in committee. Chris Pincher took it upon himself to be able to grope men, because the prime minister takes a lot of liberties and gets away with it.

Again and again deceptive maneuvers Johnsons

He doesn’t know exactly what Chris Bryant means, Johnson said. The prime minister was already accused of leadership failure in an investigation report in the Partygate affair. A committee of inquiry is looking into how Johnson deceived and lied to Parliament.

In an interview, Johnson said he will not undergo psychological transformation, he will not change – the party, people should accept him as he is.

Another no-confidence vote increasingly likely

But a psychological transformation is needed if he wants to stay in office, said Labor MP Chris Bryant. Many in his own party no longer believe that Johnson is changing his style and political culture.

If he remains stubborn and in office, it is likely that the faction will change the rules and make another vote of no confidence possible. That could happen as early as next week.