Flurry of resignations, more trouble for Boris Johnson govt

London, July 6

Hit a string of resignations by junior ministerial and government aides, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to “keep going” as he cited his “colossal mandate” from voters to carry on when he faced off with angry lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday.

Johnson, 58, appeared at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons just hours after the big blow of losing Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid in quick succession.

A flurry of junior ministerial and government aide resignations, totalling around 30 and rising, continues to hit the embattled leader even as Javid made a speech in the Commons calling upon his former Cabinet colleagues to reconsider their decision to continue to back Johnson because “enough is enough”.

That flurry intensified while Johnson appeared for a grilling from the Parliament’s Liaison Committee, with five junior ministers resigning collectively through one letter. Another minister asked Johnson to step down.

“The job of a Prime Minister in difficult circumstances, when you’ve been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going, and that’s what I am going to do,” said Johnson, in response to repeated demands for him to resign.

Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer attacked Johnson over his handling of the latest scandal to hit Downing Street, reading out the accusations levelled at his disgraced former Deputy Chief Whip. The exit of Sunak and Javid has left the Conservative Party leader in a precarious position as further resignations are expected. — PTI

Johnson has moved swiftly to fill the top jobs with Iraqi immigrant minister Nadhim Zahawi stepping in as UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and Steve Barclay as Health Secretary.

Dramatic Turn of events

• Chris Pincher resigns as Dy Chief Whip on June 30 after ‘assaulting’ two fellow guests at a London club
• More charges emerge, giving rise to questions if Johnson knew about these; PM apologises
• Ministers Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid quit, followed by nearly 30 resignations by ministers, aides

Will keep going

The job of a PM in difficult times is to keep going, and that’s what I am going to do. — Boris Johnson, UK PM