On July 7, 2022, Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Conservative leader, triggering a leadership contest that ultimately failed to stabilize the United Kingdom’s government. The resignation followed the mass exodus of 62 government ministers, parliamentary private secretaries, trade envoys, and party vice-chairmen in the preceding days, a revolt fueled by a series of scandals.
The immediate catalyst for the final wave of resignations was the Chris Pincher scandal. Johnson had promoted Chris Pincher to Deputy Chief Government Whip despite being aware of allegations of sexual assault against him. This revelation proved to be the “last straw” for many within the Conservative Party, prompting widespread calls for a change in leadership.
However, the Pincher scandal was not an isolated incident. Johnson’s premiership had been plagued by controversy since mid-2021, beginning with issues surrounding Owen Paterson’s lobbying activities and the subsequent “Partygate” scandal, involving alleged breaches of lockdown rules within government buildings. These events eroded public trust and led to significant Conservative losses in by-elections, including Chesham and Amersham, North Shropshire, Tiverton and Honiton, and Wakefield, as well as disappointing results in the 2022 local elections.
The scale of the July 2022 resignations was unprecedented, with a significant portion of the UK government’s lower ranks stepping down in a short period. This mass departure effectively paralyzed government operations and left Johnson with little choice but to concede to mounting pressure.
Following Johnson’s resignation, a Conservative Party leadership election was held. Liz Truss emerged as the victor, becoming Prime Minister in September 2022. However, Truss’s tenure was short-lived, lasting only 49 days before she, too, resigned. Her economic policies triggered market turmoil and a loss of confidence within her own party.
Rishi Sunak then became Prime Minister, but the political instability continued. By June 2025, Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, was criticizing the performance of the government, promising transformation but delivering disappointment, according to some analyses. Starmer had previously called for a general election after Truss’s resignation in October 2022, when Johnson was considered a potential contender to return to office.
As of February 2026, Keir Starmer is in power, having taken office in 2024. The Labour leader has publicly stated that Boris Johnson is unfit to return as prime minister. The current government has not responded to requests for comment on the possibility of Johnson’s future political involvement.
