Boris Johnson has no intention of resigning. The premier faced his first control session in the House of Commons after the challenge to his leadership forced by the Tory rebels. More than 40% of the conservative ranks voted against the Downing Street tenant, a percentage that for many shows that he has lost confidence among his own after months of embarrassment due to the Partygate scandal. And yet, Johnson noted that “absolutely nothing and no one” will stop him from continuing to do his job.
After pointing out last Monday that the confidence motion represented the “beginning of the end” for the prime minister, Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer preferred to focus in the unfulfilled promises of the Government in matters of public healthto highlight the alleged inefficiency of a cabinet more focused on Johnson’s survival than managing.
But the rest of the opposition parliamentarians were merciless in their criticism. Labor MP Angela Eagle stressed that the vote “has shown how hated the prime minister is and that only within her own party.” “His administration of him is too distracted by his internal divisions to manage the challenges we face, Can the prime minister explain, if 148 MPs from his party don’t trust him, how the hell should this country do it?”
In any case, Johnson again acted like there was no elephant in the room, a tactic he resorts to whenever there’s trouble. During his speech, the Tory leader still promised as a smoke screen that there will be new measures to promote the purchase of housing in the country, pointing out that the Government plans “expand homeownership for millions of citizens” and cut “costs of doing business.”
The conservative caucus was quieter than usual. The only public criticism came from Esther McVey, an old rival of Johnson’s. In any case, the rebels are not ready to throw in the towel. And if the polls don’t improve, they want to change the rules of the formation so they can hold another motion to their leadership within six months. For now, the condition that has been imposed on Johnson for his survival is lower taxes. Although the economic reality is complex and inflation does not let up.
On June 23, two partial elections will also be held in England -in the constituencies of Wakefield, which the Conservatives won in 2019 against the odds, and in Tiverton and Honiton, traditionally Tory-, the results of which will serve to mediate support for the party by part of the electorate.
In any case, the final straw could be next fall, when the contempt investigation is expected to conclude to determine whether or not Johnson lied to the House of Commons when he repeatedly said that the rules had not been broken in Downing Street. in full lockdown.
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