Boris Johnson Tears on Downing Street: "Johnson can resign today"

Of: Petter J Larsson 

Published: Less than 50 minutes ago

Updated: Less than 20 minutes ago 

NEWS

About 40 ministers and government employees have left their posts. 

The pressure on Boris Johnson's departure is growing - and sources are already testifying to tears on Downing Street.

- It is assumed that it will be today, tweets Pippa Crerar, political editor-in-chief of the Daily Mirror. 

Boris Johnson hangs loose. In two days, about 40 ministers and government officials have resigned in protest of his leadership and alleged lies. No British prime minister has had so many defections in a 24-hour period since 1932, writes The Telegraph. 

According to sources to the Daily Mirrors' political editor-in-chief Pippa Crerar, Boris Johnson may leave his post already on Wednesday night. 

"Gloomy atmosphere on Downing Street," she tweets.

A source at number 10 says that there are 'lots of tears' in the building. It's written on the wall now. It is assumed that it will be today.   

The heaviest breaks are the Minister of Finance Rishi Sunak and the Minister of Health Sajid Javid who left their posts at minute intervals on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, Javid harshly criticized Johnson, whom he was forced to defend on several occasions during Johnson's three years as prime minister. Not least during Partygate - this spring's investigation into Johnson's suspected breach of the robust covid restrictions he himself set up. 

- This week again, we have had reason to question the truth and integrity of what we have heard. At some point, we have to conclude that this is enough. "I think we've got there now," Javid said in Parliament. 

He explained that he no longer wanted to risk losing his integrity by sitting in Johnson's government and defending things that turned out to be untrue.

- You can only turn off and on a machine a certain number of times before you realize that something is fundamentally wrong, he said.

 - Last month I (Johnson) gave one last chance to show his innocence but I have concluded that the problem comes from the top and it will not change. 

Sexual harassment 

The icing on the cake was the handling of Chris Pincher, the Member of Parliament who resigned last week after pawing at two drunken men. Johnson first said that he did not know that Pincher had been accused of sexual harassment on several occasions - but then changed his mind. In an interview on Tuesday, the prime minister said he regretted hiring Pincher. 

Sajid Javid said that "loyalty must go both ways" and said that it was unfair to Johnson's ministers who were forced to appear on television every morning and defend his untruths. 

When Boris Johnson was questioned in parliament on Tuesday, Labor members waved and shouted "goodbye" to him. The Labor leader called Johnson a "pathetic spectacle" and likened him to the dead parrot in a sketch by the British comedy group Monty Pyton. 

"This is the first time the sinking ships have escaped the rats," Starmer said of the defecting ministers. 

Refuses to step down 

He had begun his speech by reading out a testimony from one of the men who claims to have been assaulted by Chris Pincher. He asked Johnson if it was true that he had previously dismissed Pincher as "a bit awkward", but received no response from the Prime Minister - who is determined to remain. 

- It's just when there are tough times, like when the country is facing heavy pressure on the economy and pressure on their budgets and when we have the biggest war in Europe in 80 years, that's exactly when you expect a government to continue. work on and not go away, Johnson said. 

Starmer replied: 

- The only thing he delivered is chaos. 

Boris Johnson had been met with loud bursts of laughter when he began the hearing by telling of a major tax cut that he and the new Minister of Finance Nadhim Zahawi would introduce. 

But the focus during the hearing, and during a meeting with the government's liaison committee a few hours later, ended up on the big mishap with Johnson. In the liaison committee, Johnson was asked if he would remain as prime minister on Thursday. 

"Of course," he said. 

- But instead of giving ongoing comments about my own career, I am here to talk about what the government is doing. 

Can be a vote 

On Wednesday night, Housing Secretary Michael Gove - who has been a loyal gunsmith to Johnson throughout his reign - announced that he had called on the Prime Minister to resign. Then a delegation of, among others, Transport Minister Grant Schapps went to 10 Downing Street with the same message. 

According to The Times reporter Steven Swinford, the visit caused a logistical chaos in the Prime Minister's office as a group of ministers supporting Johnson, including Home Secretary Priti Patel, were on the premises at the same time.

"They have gathered in different parts of the building," Swinford tweeted. 

 

Priti Patel, who had been one of Johnson's most loyal allies, would change sides a few hours later and join the growing crowd of cabinet ministers urging him to resign. 

 

Since Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote on June 6, a new one cannot be held for one year. But according to two members of the Tory Party's Steering Committee, the 1922 Committee, who spoke to The Guardian, these rules may change. In that case, a vote on Johnson's future as Britain's Prime Minister could