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LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who seems to have spent half his prime ministership apologizing for something, is in hot water again. A lot. Two of his most senior cabinet ministers abruptly, stunningly resigned on Tuesday, saying they had lost faith in Johnson’s leadership.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who serves as Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary overseeing Britain’s pandemic response, announced their departures within minutes of each other, making it clear that have lost confidence in Johnson.
Some critics say it’s curtains for this prime minister. But his death had been predicted many times before as he faced one political scandal after another – including over boozy parties held in his Downing Street offices in defiance of his government’s pandemic lockdown rules. Johnson became the first sitting prime minister to be found in breach of the law and still faces an investigation into lying to parliament about the celebrations.
Tuesday’s resignations came amid a different controversy: Johnson’s appointment of conservative lawmaker Chris Pincher to a key government post despite earlier allegations of misconduct.
Sunak tweeted: “The public rightly expects the government to be properly, competently and seriously run. I recognize that this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for, and that is why I am resigning.
Javid wrote in his resignation letter that although Johnson survived a no-confidence vote last month, the ruling Conservative Party was no longer competent or acting in the national interest.
“It is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership,” he wrote to Johnson, “and therefore you have lost my confidence.”
In February, Johnson appointed Pincher as deputy chief whip in the House of Commons, a leadership role that charged him with keeping Conservative Party members – the rowdy “back benches” – behind the prime minister and his government’s legislative agenda.
But Pincher last week resigned from that post after admitting in a letter to Johnson that he had “drank too much” and “embarrassed myself and other people” at a gathering. The British press reported that the incident took place at the Carlton Club, a private London watering hole dominated by members of the Conservative Party.
While intoxicated, Pincher allegedly tried to grope several men, the British press reported. Witnesses told the BBC that the Pinscher was “extremely drunk”.
This isn’t the first time Pincher has been in trouble — and it’s what got Johnson in trouble.
The prime minister acknowledged that he was informed of earlier allegations of alleged misconduct by Pincher in 2019 (which Pincher denied). Johnson’s official spokesman initially said the prime minister was unaware of earlier incidents, only to later backtrack to say the boss had been informed.
“There is no place in this government for anyone who abuses power,” Johnson said in an apology on Tuesday. “I bitterly regret the decision not to . . . intervene.”
Asked by the BBC if he had ever joked: “Pincher by name, pincher by nature”, the prime minister did not deny using the phrase.
Boris Johnson survives but is weakened by a vote of no confidence
Johnson, who has made it clear he won’t go anywhere unless forced, quickly filled cabinet vacancies, appointing education minister Nadhim Zahawi as the new chancellor and Downing Street chief of staff Steve Barclay as health secretary. He also selected Michelle Donnellan as deputy for the education post.
As the night wore on, all eyes were on other cabinet members to see if Sunak and Javid would be the only ones to resign – or the start of a wave. Sunak and Javid are seen as potential rivals to Johnson.
Nadine Dorris, the culture secretary, tweeted: “Not sure anyone really doubts this but I’m 100 per cent behind @BorisJohnson, the Prime Minister who consistently gets all the big decisions right.”
Others did not tweet, but British media signaled that other senior ministers were staying put for now.
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