Boris Johnson weakened by electoral defeats refuses to resign

The british prime minister, Boris Johnsonreceived a new blow to his legitimacy this Friday, but he again refused to resign after the defeat of his Conservative Party in some by-elections that caused the sudden resignation of the president of the formation.

The Conservatives lost both seats at stake in Tiverton-Honitona historically right-wing constituency in southwestern Englandy Wakefielda traditional left-wing fiefdom in the so-called “red wall” in the north of the country, which they had seized from Labor in the 2019 legislative elections.

in some by-elections whose results were known on Friday morning, Tiverton-Honiton elected a deputy from the centrist Liberal Democratic Party y Wakefield returned to the hands of Labor Party.

These elections take place less than three weeks after Boris Johnson survived a confidence motion launched by rebel deputies from his formation in an attempt to bring him down.

And its result further weakens a Prime Minister rapidly losing popularity, considered a “liar” by a majority of British and faced with social discontent due to uncontrolled inflation, 9.1% in May and 11% forecast for October.

Since Rwandawhere he participates in a summit of the Commonwealth, Boris Johnson He acknowledged that the electoral result is “difficult” for his party, but promised to “listen” to voters and “go ahead” with his work on the reins of government.

“We have to recognize that we must do more and we will, we will continue, responding to people’s concerns.”

Boris JohnsonPrime Minister of the United Kingdom

Triumphant winner of the 2019 legislative elections thanks to the promise to carry out the Brexit, Boris Johnsonwhich had lost two other partial legislative elections last year and suffered a electoral setback in local elections in Mayis no longer considered a electoral steamroller by many in his party, but an increasingly heavy burden.

The new defeats “are the latest in a series of very bad results for our party,” wrote the president of the British Conservative Party, Oliver Dowdenin a letter addressed to Johnson in which he announced his resignation.

“We cannot continue as usual,” he said, considering that “someone must take responsibility” in a harsh message to the leader of the formation.

Boris Johnson and the fall of the Conservatives

Los Liberal Democrats they surpassed the conservatives by more than six votes in the constituency of Tiverton-Honitonwho had voted to the right in every general election since the 1880s.