LONDON — The UK’s ruling Conservatives will hold Monday’s no-confidence vote. This could see Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of Britain, thrown out of power. It comes after months and months of growing discontent over a divisive politician who has seen many ups and downs.
Johnson will lose the vote of the 359 Conservative lawmakers. The party will elect a new leader who will also be the prime minister. Under current party rules, Johnson cannot face another challenge until he has won.
Johnson has been through many political storms but he is struggling to move on from months of ethics scandals. The most notable was the rule-breaking parties that were found in government buildings during COVID-19 lockdowns.
The scandal known as “partygate” has fueled anger in the country after it was revealed that the prime minister and his staff repeatedly ignored the restrictions they had imposed on Britain in 2020-2021.
Graham Brady, a Conservative Party official, announced Monday that he has received enough letters demanding that Johnson’s leadership be voted on. This happens if 54 Tory lawmakers — 15% of the party’s group in Parliament — write to Brady.
Brady stated that the threshold of 15% was passed. Brady stated that the vote would be held in person at the House of Commons Monday evening and the results announced shortly thereafter.
Johnson’s Downing Street office stated that the prime minister was happy to vote.
It stated that “Tonight is the chance to end months worth of speculation and allow government to draw a line, move on, and deliver on the people’s priorities.”
Late last month, an investigator’s report about “partygate”, criticized a culture that encouraged rule-breaking in the Downing Street office of the prime minister.
Sue Gray, a civil service investigator, described the alcohol-fuelled bashes hosted by Downing Street staff at a time in which pandemic restrictions made it impossible for U.K. residents to socialize or visit dying relatives.
Gray stated that the senior leadership team must be held responsible for “failures in leadership and judgment.”
He said that he was humbled and accepted “full responsibility”, but insisted that he would not resign. He encouraged Britons to “move forward” and keep their eyes on Britain’s ailing economy and the conflict in Ukraine.
A growing number of Conservatives believe Johnson, their charismatic leader that won them a large parliamentary majority in 2019, may now be a liability.
Johnson’s ouster would set off a Conservative leadership race, in which many prominent ministers of government are likely to contest.
Roger Gale, a conservative lawmaker, was a Johnson critic and said that “we have many very good alternatives for the prime minister so it’s not lacking of choice.”
He said that any one of these people would be a better prime minster than the one we have at the moment.
A parliamentary break, which coincided with Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, seems to have brought out discontent. Many saw the weekend as a chance for relaxation. But Johnson was taunted by onlookers when he arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral to perform a service in Queen Elizabeth II’s honour on Friday.
Steve Barclay, a Johnson ally and Cabinet minister, stated that it would be “indefensible” to topple the leader right now.
On the Conservative Home website, he said that “the problems we face aren’t easy to fix.” “Democracies all over the globe are currently facing similar problems. Boris Johnson’s leadership shows that our plan for jobs is a way to navigate these global problems.
“To stop this progress now would be inexcusable for many who lent their votes to us at the last general elections, and who want to see the Prime Minister deliver the change promised for their communities.”
