Status: 06.07.2022 01:15 a.m
British Prime Minister Johnson is under more pressure than ever. Ministers in his government are resigning because they are tired of their boss’s constant scandals. His routine excuses are apparently no longer enough.
It has never been so tight for the prime minister. It’s not just the fact that two of his most important ministers have left, but how they justified their departure. Sajid Javid, the previous health secretary, has openly questioned Boris Johnson’s integrity. Criticism from the resigned Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, who made it clear that he did not consider Johnson’s style of government to be competent and serious, was similarly harsh.
Even if several cabinet members expressed their support for Johnson yesterday evening, the prime minister is still battered to the max. The demands for his resignation should no longer be silent.
Two ministers in Johnson’s government are resigning in protest at the prime minister
Sven Lohmann, ARD London, daily topics 10:15 p.m., July 5, 2022
Months of criticism from our own ranks
Congressman Andrew Bridgen is one of Johnson’s harshest internal party critics. In his view, Johnson should have left the field months ago.
This is not a prime minister I want to follow. He has to go now, his time is up. I was right when I said in January that it would end like this. If he had resigned at the time, if there had been no police investigation, he would still have had some affection for Brexit and his Corona management. If he doesn’t go now, we’ll have to kick him out. It’s all very sad, but it has to be for the good of the country, of Parliament and of our democracy – and also for the Conservative Party.”
Johnson has been struggling with a new crisis in the past few days. The background: He made MP Chris Pincher a leading member of the group, the so-called Vice-Whip, responsible for ensuring group discipline.
However, Pincher has been accused of being a groper and sexually harassing others for years. Johnson is said to have known this at the time of Pincher’s appeal.
Johnson always follows the same pattern
The Prime Minister and 10 Downing Street – when allegations were raised – proceeded as usual: first it was said that the story wasn’t true, the Prime Minister didn’t know anything, then he knew something, but forgot it, and only when the pressure came on grew up, he apologized for appointing Pincher. It sounded like this on the BBC yesterday:
Yes, I believe that was a mistake and I apologize for that. In retrospect, that was a mistake. My apologies to everyone affected by this, and I want to make it clear that there is no place in this administration for anyone who is lascivious or who abuses their position of power.
If the opposition has its way, there will be no more room in government for Johnson and the Conservatives themselves. Labor leader Keir Starmer:
This government is collapsing and Tory cabinet members have backed Johnson. Not only do we need a change at the top of the Tory Party, we need a change in government.
The ministers are apparently tired of having to keep defending the prime minister on talk shows – for new affairs. Johnson reacted immediately to the resignations of his ministers and has already closed the gaps in the cabinet. If it’s up to him, he’ll keep going.
British government shows signs of dissolution
Imke Koehler, ARD London, July 5, 2022 8:25 p.m