Boris Johnson, the scandal-ridden British Prime Minister, announced that he is stepping down from his position after losing support from most Conservative lawmakers and ministers on July 7. However, he stated that he would continue to serve until his successor is chosen.
After more than 50 ministers quit the party and lawmakers said that he had to go, Johnson, who was isolated and powerless, said that although it was obvious his party wanted someone else in charge of his party, his forced departure was “eccentric”.
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Boris Johnson Quits As Prime Minister Of The UK
On July 7, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party announced his resignation outside No.10 Downing Street. July 2019 saw him become Prime Minister. Conservative Party leadership elections are scheduled over the summer, and Johnson intends to serve as caretaker PM until the fall.
“I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them’s the breaks,” he stated.
“I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019 – many of them voting Conservative for the first time – thank you for that incredible mandate,” he continued. “The reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person, was not just because I wanted to do so, but because I felt that it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you, to continue to do what we promised.”
Close allies including Johnson’s wife Carrie gathered outside his Downing Street office to hear him say, ” To that new leader, whoever he or she may be, I say I will give you as much support as I can.”
The Covid-19 ‘Partygate’ Scandal
During the 20-month period of different COVID-related lockdowns in England, Boris Johnson’s departure was primarily spurred by the ‘Partygate’ COVID-19 controversy, in which 16 social meetings in Downing Street were proven to have taken place.
The 58-year-old Johnson was fined by the Metropolitan Police in April for the parties, making him the first UK Prime Minister in history to be formally found guilty of breaking the law.
To make matters worse, a number of Conservative MPs had written to the House of Commons, claiming that they no longer trusted him to head the government of the UK. The inquiry led to another vote of confidence, which he won by 211 votes to 148.
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