Johnson clings to power amid continuing resignations and cabinet standoff, but for how long?

Johnson clings to power amid continuing resignations and cabinet standoff, but for how long?

Johnson clings to power amid continuing resignations and cabinet standoff, but for how long?

Wednesday was UK Prime Minister’s worst day in office – an unprecedented standoff with his own cabinet and more than 40 resignations, including his key ministers who blamed his leadership as the reason for resignations. Yet, Boris Johnson continues to cling on to power, as sources at Downing Street reveal that he “wants to stay and fight”.

Boris is determined to fight as his key ministers urge for his resignation

Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be determined to keep the fight on, despite a delegation consisting of his senior cabinet ministers, including the home secretary, Priti Patel, and the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, have personally urged him to resign.

On Thursday morning too the pressure continued to mount on Johnson when Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, became the latest to resign.

Johnson reacts by sacking Michael Gove

Johnson has responded by sacking Michael Gove as the levelling up secretary. Gove had earlier told Johnson in a face-to-face meeting that he believed “his position was unsustainable, given the number of MPs who had turned against him”.

No plans to step aside

A Downing Street source said, “He wants to stay and fight. The choice is a summer of navel-gazing and instability or a new partnership that finally moves forward and tackles the cost of living crisis and grows the economy.”

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“It’s not quite as Doomsday as people were thinking a few hours ago.” They added, “He’s naturally just immovable in terms of his bullishness. He will say millions of people voted for me only two years ago – and I’m going to fight this to the end. I can’t just pack that in.”

Andrew Murrison, who resigned as a trade envoy on Tuesday, tweeted, “The situation is now getting out of hand. Absolute duty of remaining ministers in Mr Johnson’s rump government to quit. Nobody making the positive choice to remain should feature in the upcoming leadership contest.”

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock also withdrew his support to the PM, saying he had “supported him through thick and thin” but he now needed to go.

Government requires “honesty, integrity and mutual respect”

As Brandon Lewis resigned, he told the prime minister that the government of UK requires “honesty, integrity and mutual respect”. Underlining that since this is missing in the current government, he “cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they stand now. It is clear that our party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country, deserve better.”

It is clear that Boris Johnson cannot continue the same line of action as his cabinet is clearly not backing him enough. The question is – for how long will he continue to hold on to his power?