Just one of the series of scandals that have hit the British government would be enough for most prime ministers to resign, but Boris Johnson, who according to one biographer said as a child that he wanted to be "king of the world", refused to do so until yesterday .
As his power waned, Johnson grew increasingly resentful that many in the British establishment wanted to oust him because they did not forgive him for Brexit.
In the end, Johnson, known for his swagger in public and often shy in private, gave in to the demands of party colleagues and associates who were tired of constantly having to defend their leader's actions. This was particularly true of MPs who won votes in parts of England that traditionally do not support the Conservative Party. Many voted for Johnson to take the country out of the European Union, but were then faced with a prime minister they felt they could not trust.
His associates have warned for years that he should not be underestimated, claiming that his casual exterior and jocular demeanor are actually a mask for recklessness.
Opponents said that his personal unfitness for the role of prime minister and tendency to neglect details would come to light.
"The house of cards built on lies and deception is collapsing," said Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats. “Go, and go now. You have discredited our great country long enough.”
Johnson resigned as leader of the Conservatives yesterday, but promised to remain prime minister until a new leader is elected, and that process could take some time. The British political scene is in chaos at the moment, with the Conservatives insisting that Johnson leave Downing Street immediately, although until now it has been customary for a prime minister, who has not been removed in an election, to remain in power until a successor is chosen. If Johnson relents and immediately retires, he would leave the management of the country to the acting prime minister, and that would most likely be his deputy Dominik Rab, according to the AP agency.
The length of the process to elect a new Conservative leader varies and depends on how many candidates apply. Reuters cites as an example Theresa May, who became leader in just three weeks after David Cameron resigned in 2016, and other candidates quickly dropped out.
The media and the British public are already speculating about potential successors, and current Defense Minister Ben Wallace is mentioned as one of the more serious candidates. He was considered a key figure in Great Britain's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and on the eve of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, he clearly advocated action to evacuate British citizens. The fact that he did not resign from Johnson's cabinet does not help him, the "Guardian" points out.
A favorite of the Conservative Party, the current foreign minister, Liz Truss, has also been mentioned as a possible new leader of the party and the country. According to Reuters, Trasova is carefully building her public image, and last year she was photographed in a tank, reminiscent of the famous photograph of Margaret Thatcher from 1986.
Trass, 46, initially campaigned against Brexit, but said she had changed her mind after the referendum. She spent the first two years of Johnson's term as secretary for international trade, and last year she was appointed as Britain's chief negotiator with the EU. She said on Monday that Johnson has her absolute support and called on her colleagues to support him.
Former foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, 55, lost to Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership vote. According to Reuters, he would offer a more serious and less controversial management style. During the last two years, he served as the chairman of the parliamentary committee on health and his reputation is not tarnished by his service in the outgoing government. Hunt opposed leaving the EU ahead of the referendum and it is unclear whether he would take a tough line with Brussels to win over conservative voters, or take a more pragmatic approach to boost trade after Brexit.
Rishi Sunak, who resigned from the post of finance minister, said on Tuesday that the British public "rightly expects the government to behave competently, appropriately and seriously", until last year he was the favorite to succeed Johnson. He won praise for the economic relief package during covid-19, including an expensive program that prevented mass unemployment. Later, however, he faced criticism for not providing sufficient support to households. The revelations that his wealthy wife did not pay taxes in Britain and the fact that he, along with Johnson, was fined for breaking the covid restrictions damaged his position. In 2016, Sunak voted to leave the EU.
Sajid Javid is the first cabinet minister to resign in protest at allegations that Johnson misled the public in a sexual harassment case against a Conservative MP. A former banker and advocate of the free market, Javid held several positions in the government. The son of Pakistani immigrants and admirer of Margaret Thatcher was fourth in the race to succeed former Prime Minister Theresa May. Javid advocated remaining in the EU, arguing that Brexit would cause economic disruption.
Nadim Zahavi, appointed finance minister by Boris Johnson this week in an effort to restore authority, impressed the public as he led a vaccination campaign during the pandemic. His biography differs from other candidates primarily because he fled Iraq as a child. Before entering parliament in 2010, he was one of the founders of the research agency YouGov. He advocated leaving the EU, and last Sunday he said that it would be a "privilege" to become prime minister at one point.
Former defense secretary Penny Mordant, who was sacked by Johnson when he became prime minister for supporting his rival Hunt, has also been mentioned in the media as a serious contender. She was a passionate supporter of leaving the European Union, and made headlines with her participation in a diving reality show. Mordant, assistant trade minister in the current government, called the parties in Downing Street that violated covid restrictions "shameful".
Whoever takes over from Johnson will have the toughest task of restoring the Conservative Party's popularity. Johnson led the party to a large parliamentary majority in December 2019, but the scandals have tarnished both his and the party's reputation and it is still unclear whether the rebellion against the prime minister will restore some credibility with voters.
According to British political rules, the next election must be called in December 2024. However, it is possible to hold it earlier if the prime minister, who has a majority in parliament, requests it. However, with the war in Ukraine and the skyrocketing cost of living, the Conservatives are likely to decide to wait.
According to research, if the election were held now, the Conservative Party would lose and the opposition Labor Party would form a new government.
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