“For God’s sake, man, step down!”
Several Tory MPs want to get rid of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He is combative – and announces the abolition of practically all Covid restrictions for England.
—
Still sees himself as “the best man”: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Photo: Jessica Taylor (AFP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasingly being cornered. More and more Tory MPs are breaking away from him. Just ahead of the Prime Minister’s weekly Question Time, MP Christian Wakeford announced that he was defecting from the Conservatives to the opposition Labor Party in protest at Johnson. Wakeford said Johnson has “proved incapable” of providing the country with the kind of leadership “it deserves”. Other Tory politicians have already openly called for Johnson’s resignation.
Dozens prepare vote of no confidence in the faction against him. Among others, Douglas Ross, the head of the Scottish Tories, has demanded that Johnson leave office. As the most prominent backbencher to date, former Brexit Minister David Davis called on the Prime Minister to resign immediately during Question Time: “In God’s name, man, resign!” In the meantime, Johnson’s departure is “not a question of if, but only a question of when,” numerous Tories assured British reporters.
No-confidence vote more likely
Johnson’s critics in the ruling party are increasingly expecting the prime minister to face a vote of confidence. For tactical reasons, however, some want to wait until the report on lockdown violations by the government, prepared by state official Sue Gray, is available. That is likely to be the case next week. Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor Party, once again accused Johnson of breaking the law with lively parties during the lockdown period and having lied to Parliament and the nation ever since.
More than a dozen such meetings, which Sue Gray is now investigating, are said to have taken place during the period in question. Especially the two parties that took place in No. 10 Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, Starmer again denounced Johnson. The head of government apologized again for “mistakes made at government headquarters”. But he saw no reason to resign.
“I’m incredibly proud of what my government has accomplished.”
Instead, Boris Johnson was again emphatically belligerent. In a decidedly turbulent question and answer session, he flatly rejected any further argument about the lockdown parties, instead emphasizing how much his government was doing in the pandemic, especially with yours Impf campaigns, have achieved: “I am incredibly proud of what my government has achieved.” In this context, the Prime Minister unveiled a Cabinet decision the same morning to abolish all anti-omicron restrictions imposed in England in December. The – relatively minor – measures included the obligation to wear masks in shops and public transport, a recommendation to work from home and the obligation to present a Covid passport when attending major events of all kinds.
None of these regulations will be valid from next Wednesday. And from March 24th, “or maybe even earlier”, nobody should be legally obliged to self-isolate after a positive test. This would mean that practically all Covid protective measures would be lifted within a few weeks. London has once again chosen “a different path” than most of Europe, Johnson said. In the House of Commons, the announcement of this return to “normal life” sparked jubilation in the Conservative ranks.
The opposition suspected that Johnson was only bringing about this end to the restrictions in a hurry “to save his own skin”. Experts have expressed concerns that Johnson’s easing policy poses serious risks. Saffron Cordery of the NHS Providers Hospital Association warned that the omicron wave was “not over yet” and that “a second omicron wave” could not be ruled out. While the number of infections in the British Isles has fallen steadily of late, according to the Statistical Office, one in 20 people in England alone was still infected last week. There are currently around 20,000 patients with Covid in hospitals in Great Britain.
Most observers in Westminster doubted that the waiver of Covid restrictions would sufficiently soothe Johnson’s backbencher. The mood in the ruling party had “changed dramatically” to Johnson’s disadvantage, ministers who wished to remain anonymous reported to the media. Johnson is now “really in danger”. Both old-guard Brexiteers and dozens of younger MPs from the north and central constituencies met to discuss Johnson’s ouster.
Some advised giving Johnson another chance, at least until the statewide local elections in May. Others urged his immediate replacement. In order to force a no-confidence vote against the party leader, at least 15 percent of the group, i.e. 54 MPs, must demand this from group coordinator Sir Graham Brady. Brady accepts applications until the number reaches 54. A vote will then be scheduled, possibly as early as the next day, in which at least half of the parliamentary group – 180 MPs – would have to vote against the incumbent.
That would seal Johnson’s fate. But if he were to win, no new vote would be possible for twelve months. Should such a fight vote come about, Johnson said yesterday that he would definitely face it. He is still “the best man” for the job at the top.
Found a bug? Report now.
–
