UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned yesterday along with a record number of resignations from his ministers too. The political crisis will put a lot of ongoing negotiations and engagements in limbo.
After resigning, Boris Johnson said –
It is clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party, and therefore a new prime minister,
As we’ve seen, a Westminster of a herd instinct is powerful; when the herd moves, it moves. My friends, in politics no one is remotely indispensable.
There is also news that though Johnson has resigned, he is clinging on to power and is resisting from stepping down immediately as the prime minister of UK.
Here’s all the on-goings in UK politics:
► Johnson’s leadership has been entangled in months of turmoil.
► Last month he survived a vote of confidence among Conservative MPs.
► Two of Britain’s most senior Cabinet ministers, Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, resigned within minutes of each other after a day he handled allegations of sexual misconduct by a senior member of his government.
► Over 50 members of his government revolted against him.
► Johnson’s lack of integrity and honesty is also a key reason for turning against him.
► He did not apologise for the scandals, boozy partying in his office during COVID-19 lockdowns and sexual abuse complaints in the party.
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Boris Johnson’s resignation triggers a contest to replace him as head of his party. Whoever wins will become both prime minister and party leader, without the need for a national election. For now, the front runners for the Prime Minister’s position are former Finance Secretary Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and Home Secretary Priti Patel.
But is the UK prepared to accept a leader of colour, of a different race, of a non-Christian faith? The country does have an opportunity to present itself as one that goes beyond the set criteria of the past and carve out a new path. Let us wait and watch.