Johnson facing coup attempt, pressures to resign

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jul 2022 23:49

Academics and analysts weigh in on Johnson's shaky leadership at No. 10.

Boris Johnson (AFP)

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, according to Sputnik, is going to face increasing pressure to resign after a scandal involving former deputy chief Christopher Pincher - the Tories feel they have become a liability.

Over 20 British governmental officials and ministers have submitted their resignations, including Solicitor General for England and Wales Alex Chalk, Health Secretary Sajid Javid, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Even more so, 69% of British citizens believe that Johnson should resign.

"Johnson’s opponents in the Conservative party are galvanized and will be very active persuading backbencher MPS to support a change of rule, in order to oust the PM. His government is much weaker now and those who left will not shut up, neither will the Labour opposition," said Steven Woolfe, a former member of the European Parliament and the founder of the Centre for Migration and Economic Prosperity.

According to Woolfe, Johnson would have a 50% chance to survive a coup, which would oust his leadership of the Tory party.

"Johnson could also call a general election at any time if he feels he has good chances of winning it. If he would win, then he can’t be ousted anymore, but that is a long shot. I expect him to keep his reshuffled cabinet tightly under control and make sure none of his ministers push on the button to jettison him," Woolfe concluded.

An academic, furthermore, weighed in on the matter: Mark Garnett, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at Lancaster University, said that the resignations of Sunak and Javid indicate a "wider perception of Johnson as a vote-loser among Tory lawmakers."

"Since Johnson's reputation for winning elections was the only reason for his rise to the premiership, MPs no longer see any reason to keep him in office and to support him through an apparently endless series of scandals," Garnett explained, adding that "there will be more resignations, but it is unlikely that any cabinet ministers will go since the remaining ones owe their position to Johnson and will lose their jobs under any of his likely successors."

With Johnson's series of horrendous scandals and law-breaking record during the Covid-19 lockdown, conservatives and labor members alike have been calling on the PM to step down, questioning his leadership. Earlier in February, Conservative members of the parliament, even loyalists, demanded that the PM be removed from his position if investigations reveal he committed a criminal offense.