The condition of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is deteriorating. He has been heavily criticized for weeks, his ratings in elections are pathetic and his future as prime minister is uncertain. On Wednesday, longtime Conservative MP David Davis openly called on Johnson to step down in the House of Commons. Davis is considered a respected and influential figure in the Tories’ ruling party, and his surprise move to the weekly “Prime Minister’s Questions” session also shows how intense the power struggle has intensified in the party between Johnson supporters and Johnson critics. . Johnson has had to defend himself against allegations that rogue parties were held in Downing Street during the time of lockdown.
Davies, a former Brexit secretary, said in a live debate on TV that he expected party leaders and the prime minister to take responsibility for what they did. Johnson is currently doing the “opposite”. So, Davis said, he quoted former MP Leopold Emery, who once told Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, “Go for God’s sake!”
Davis is the eighth Conservative MP to publicly call for Johnson’s resignation. As several British media reported on Wednesday night, several Conservative MPs want to express their distrust at the head of government. It is quite possible that the 54 votes required for a no-confidence motion in Johnson will be achieved.
In heated and sometimes chaotic question-and-answer sessions, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle repeatedly had to intervene. The belligerent Johnson answered all questions about his future, citing an ongoing investigation by Officer Sue Grey into the allegations. It is unclear when Gray will present his results. Johnson said on Wednesday that this could be possible in the coming week.
A Conservative MP switched sides on Wednesday. Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South near Manchester, who was elected in 2019, announced his immediate move to Labor just minutes before the Prime Minister’s Questions began. In a letter to the party, Wakeford wrote, Johnson “was unable to demonstrate leadership and governance of this country.”
Johnson also announced on Wednesday that almost all coronavirus restrictions that were still in place would be lifted effective Thursday next week. This includes, among other things, a COVID passport that those who have recovered and been vaccinated must show up at certain events, and the obligation to wear a mask. It will be removed in schools from this Thursday. The opposition supports the move as long as it is motivated by scientific facts, as opposition leader Keir Starmer said, “and not by your attempt to save your job”.
