British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday categorically rejected calls from cabinet colleagues for him to resign, telling them they faced a choice between a summer focused on economic growth or a summer dominated by a chaotic election of a new leadership - followed by huge pressure ahead of parliamentary elections. of choice.
After the BBC announced last night that a group of ministers would tell Johnson to resign, and with the number of resignations within the government rising to over 30, some are questioning the wisdom of Johnson's decision to try to ride out the storm, questioning whether there is anyone left who would fill vacant positions in the cabinet.
Despite the fact that he was almost fatally wounded, Johnson said that in 2019 he received a mandate to continue his work. "I will not leave office, and honestly the last thing this country needs is new elections," he said before the parliamentary committee.
The response was brutal, according to Reuters. During the parliamentary hearing, some MPs of the Conservative Party refrained from laughing while others mocked the Prime Minister. After that, he found himself targeted by the so-called liaison committee, where prominent politicians criticized him for his past behavior and the scandals that marked much of his tenure.
Some kind of relief for Johnson was the decision of the Committee in 1922, which sets the rules for a vote of confidence in the government. The board decided there would be no confidence vote in Johnson at least until the end of next week. The government's spokesman announced yesterday that Johnson is convinced that he will receive a vote of confidence this time, but the media reported that he said that if he is voted no-confidence, he will resign.
When he arrived in parliament, Johnson answered "no, no, no" when asked if he would resign. He said in front of the parliamentary committee that he will continue to implement his program with which he won the 2019 elections, sarcastically commenting that he is having a "great Sunday".
"Honestly, the prime minister's job in difficult circumstances when you've been given a colossal mandate is to carry on," Johnson said in parliament. "And that's what I'm going to do".
During the parliamentary hearing, some MPs of the Conservative Party refrained from laughing while others mocked the Prime Minister.
Appearing before party caucuses and in parliament, Johnson was made clear how angry he was within the Conservative Party.
He was persistently asked by Conservative MPs if he was going to do the right thing, while ministers in parliament could barely contain their laughter when he was mocked by the opposition Labor leader. Such an atmosphere only emphasized how much things have changed since Johnson's landslide victory in 2019 to now when it is clear that a large number of conservatives, including ministers, want to distance themselves from the prime minister as soon as possible.
From the back of parliament, former health secretary Sajid Javid detailed the scandals, mistakes and gaffes that have marked Johnson's tenure so far.
"In one moment we had to conclude that enough is enough. I think that moment has come," Javid said in parliament while Johnson listened to him without gesturing.
In subsequent appearances before the committee chairman, Johnson answered questions about his conduct and views on ethical standards in politics.
At one point he was asked if he was suffering from memory loss when he couldn't answer a question, alluding to his excuse for promoting a person accused of sexual misconduct.
"It looks to me like we're going to have to force him out of Downing Street while he's thrashing and screaming," one Conservative MP told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "However, if we are forced to do so, we will".
Johnson, a former journalist and mayor of London who became the face of Britain's departure from the European Union, took an aggressive and often chaotic approach to governing the country after a convincing victory in 2019. His tenure has been marred by scandals in recent months, with him fined for breaking laws in place during the Covid-19 pandemic and a negative report on the behavior of officials at his Downing Street residence.
The mandate was also marked by drastic political upheavals, advocacy for an MP who broke lobbying rules and criticism that he did not do enough to curb inflation, while many Britons struggle with rising fuel and food prices.
In the latest scandal, Johnson had to apologize for appointing an MP to a post that involves looking after welfare and discipline within the party, even after he was informed that the politician had been complained about for sexual harassment.
In Downing Street, they changed the story several times about how much the prime minister knew about the behavior of that politician, and in the end the spokesman said that Johnson knew but had forgotten.
After that, Rishi Sunak resigned from the position of Minister of Finance - and Džavid from the position of Minister of Health.
Several deputy ministers who also resigned cited Johnson's inability to tell the truth and lack of scruples.
A YouGov survey showed that 69 percent of Britons think Johnson should resign.
A month ago, he survived a vote of confidence by conservative MPs. According to the current party rules, he cannot face another such challenge in the next year, but some MPs are trying to change the rules. If Johnson were to leave, the process of replacing him could take several months.
"Since the prime minister constantly avoids the topic, he always tries to blame other people for mistakes, then he has no choice but to take responsibility and resign," Garry Sambrook, an MP from the Conservative Party, told Reuters.
Ukrainians hope that Johnsonyuk will stay in power
While the majority in Britain seem to want Boris Johnson to resign, Ukrainians hope that the man they beat Boris Johnsonyuk will stay in power.
In Kiev, Johnson is painted in graffiti, while a cream cake with ice cream on top that resembles his hair bears his name, as do several streets in Ukraine.
"It's a shame because we need all possible support for Ukraine," 22-year-old actress Katerina Chikina told Reuters. "We need all the influential politicians abroad. We don't want to lose him because he really helps us. He's too sweet."
Artist Tetjana Kropjiva, 24, yesterday painted Johnson's image on a barrel that serves as a table in the garden of a bar in Kyiv. "As a painter, I can say that he has specific facial features. It is interesting to paint him," she told Reuters.
In the Museum of History in Kyiv, two portraits of Johnson in the window serve to attract visitors, Mykola Petrichenko said.
"It's a kind of marketing move because Boris Johnson is extremely popular among Ukrainians... passers-by, when they see his portrait in the window, recognize him and go inside and ask about the exhibition."
Dmytro Usikov, 27, says Johnson will have free drinks at his cafe even if he is removed from power. "It's free for him... because he really helped our country, and he's still helping us."
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