After the resignation of two key ministers, British newspapers see Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the brink of extinction. After almost three years in office, the head of government is on the brink, headlines several newspapers on Wednesday.
The conservative government is currently in a serious crisis. Both Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid resigned on Tuesday evening. Both linked this with accusations against the party and government leader of damaging the reputation of the conservatives. Other MPs also resigned from government offices. Most cabinet members, however, professed their allegiance to Johnson. The 58-year-old has been in office since July 2019 and has already faced several scandals.
The trigger for the new government crisis was that Johnson heaved the Conservative MP Chris Pincher into an important parliamentary group office, even though he was aware of allegations of sexual harassment. Last week, Pincher resigned for drunkenly groping two men. The Tories are now in open turmoil. However, the head of government wants to continue. The press mercilessly settled accounts with Johnson.
The Times: “Despite the resignations of Finance Secretary Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Boris Johnson remains clinging to his post at Downing Street. This is a mistake. He has lost the confidence of his party and the country.
There is no realistic chance that Johnson, who lost the support of 148 lawmakers in a confidence vote last month, can regain his authority to provide the effective leadership the country needs at a time of acute national crisis. Each day he remains in office increases the sense of chaos. In the interests of the country, he should go.”
“Daily Mail”: “Can even Boris the greased piglet wriggle out of that?”
The Guardian: “The apparently coordinated resignations of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid are certainly a sign that Boris Johnson’s prime minister is on the verge of extinction. It was already clear that a series of scandals – most notably the prime minister’s disdain for the public demonstrated through “Partygate” – had done irreparable damage to Johnson’s reputation.
Britain deserves better than a prime minister who has become a laughingstock, leading a taxless government in a time of economic crisis. In the interest of maintaining their self-respect, the other members of Johnson’s cabinet must follow Sunak and Javid’s example. The Prime Minister must face the truth: his time is up.”
The Telegraph: “Suddenly the magnitude of the crisis plaguing Boris Johnson’s government is becoming overwhelmingly clear. The joint resignation of Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid has torn a hole in the cabinet’s heart that will be impossible to mend even if the PM tries.
In view of the allegations (…) he can no longer dismiss the criticism as oppositional whining or the views of well-known opponents. Javid said the country needs a “strong and principled Conservative Party, and the party is bigger than an individual.” Sunak said the country expects the government to be run “competently and seriously,” virtues he says are lacking. “These are serious allegations from serious people. This is an existential crisis, not just for Johnson, but for the government and the Conservatives. For the good of the party and the country, it must be overcome.”
Sydney Morning Herald: “Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister is in freefall and the question now is when, not if, he will hit Downing Street with his suitcase, wife Carrie, two young children and dog Dilyn in tow leaves. He has lost all authority, and even his staunchest supporters can no longer stomach Johnson’s lack of fundamental values or integrity. It can last a day, a week, or even a month. But his reign is over. (…)
All of Johnson’s missteps were essentially one and the same offense: a total disregard for the ethics that go with his office. (…) The dramatic letters of resignation on Tuesday evening from two of the top men who sit next to Johnson in the cabinet were very revealing. (…) Johnson has always survived scandals (…) but he has now lost the confidence of at least half the Tory backbenchers and many ministers. (…) Johnson’s constant lies finally caught up with him and left him with no way out.”
“FAZ”: “The next government crisis for Boris Johnson (…) The double blow is the hardest Johnson has had to endure so far, and many in Westminister believed on Tuesday evening that his political end was sealed. But contrary to many expectations, no further resignations followed in the hours after the resignations – and Johnson (…) already appointed the successors of the two resigned.
(…) Will Johnson try to put two of his closest companions through this vote of no confidence and move on? In the morning, many had treated the affair, which has now exploded, as if it were like any other. Had Johnson promoted a retainer knowing about his propensity to sexually harass men?”
“Handelsblatt”: “Boris Johnson’s political fate as British Prime Minister is hanging in the balance. (…) The resignation of Sunak and Javid is the high point in a series of numerous crises and scandals. Johnson was already under enormous pressure from the so-called “Partygate” affair during the lockdown in the pandemic. (…) At the beginning of June, he barely survived a vote of no confidence from his own group. More than 40 percent of his party friends voted against their head of government. Shortly thereafter, the Tories lost two important by-elections.”
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