New Delhi: Scandal-ridden UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose missteps over the years has precipitated an open revolt and scores of resignations in government, will resign Thursday as Conservative leader, the BBC reported.
Johnson may continue as caretaker Prime Minister till autumn, until a new leader is appointed in time for October’s Conservative Party (Tory) conference, the report said.
Nearly 50 ministers have resigned in the last 48 hours saying Johnson was not fit to govern as scandal after scandal blighted his tenure. There was also an open revolt by his Conservative party colleagues.
A delegation of senior ministers met the beleaguered Prime Minister at his 10, Downing Street home Wednesday evening and asked him to make a dignified exit.
But he refused to budge, and even sacked one of his ministers, Michael Gove, who suggested he quit.
Johnson said it would not be responsible to walk out when his country was in an economic crisis and Europe in the middle of a war.
Johnson swept to power in December 2019 to figure out Britain’s exit from the European Union after years of bickering.
The Tory leader faced months of scandals, including an incriminating report into lockdown rule-breaking parties at Downing Street that saw him fined by the police.
A series of missteps precipitated into full-blown angst recently when lawmaker Chris Pincher was forced to quit over accusations that he groped men in a private club.
Johnson was aware of similar misdemeanour by Pincher in the past before he appointed him. When confronted by colleagues, Johnson said he had forgotten.
The revolt began on Tuesday evening when Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Wajid stepped down.
This opened the floodgates and resignation after resignation followed. Those who stayed back in government also urged him to quit. Even the newly-appointed ministers began abandoning Johnson.
On Thursday, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who was given the post two days ago, said the situation was not sustainable and would only get worse.
A government colleague even advised him to apologise to the Queen.
Meanwhile, a spot poll this week revealed that seven out of 10 Britons wanted Johnson to go. The Prime Minister’s personal ratings have also plummeted though he survived a confidence vote among his MPs last month.
The political fortunes of the Conservatives have also dwindled in recent times after hundreds of councillors were defeated in May’s local elections.
The many scandals that plagued Boris Johnson, the PM
Christopher Pincher: The avalanche of resignations followed a former civil servant’s accusation that the PM’s office gave false information about past sexual harassment accusations against Pincher.
Johnson had appointed Pincher deputy chief whip in February. When Pincher resigned last week after making others feel uncomfortable during a drunken night out, it emerged that he had a history of such behaviour.
Johnson’s office initially said the PM was unaware but that was proved a lie.
Partygate: Johnson’s government held parties – some at his Downing Street home – during the Covid pandemic. It emerged that strict lockdown rules were broken, the staff drank too much and even vomited.
Johnson himself was fined by the police for attending a birthday party. He also had to apologise to the Queen after it became clear that his staff partied at Downing Street on the eve of her husband’s funeral in April, 2021.
A damning report into the parties held him responsible for the overall rule-breaking culture.
Other scandals: Conservative lawmakers have been accused of sexual misconduct, forcing two to resign. In the bypolls in these seats, the Conservatives lost.
One of them, Imran Ahmed Khan resigned after he was found guilty of abusing a 15-year-old boy.
The other, Neil Parish, resigned after admitting that he had watched pornography on his phone while in the House of Commons.
Former minister Owen Paterson also resigned after it was revealed that he advocated on behalf of companies that paid him. Johnson’s attempts to save him backfired.
Questions have also been asked on who paid for a lavish refurbishment of Johnson’s official residence and a private Caribbean trip.
Also read: Huge blow for UK PM Boris Johnson as Rishi Sunak & Sajid Javid resign as ministers