Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Johnson's leadership in turmoil after new Partygate reveal

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Apr 2022 08:23
4 Min Read

No. 10 claims that the Prime Minister has been fined again, despite reports that at least one new sanction has been imposed for the 20 May party and Tory MPs are reconsidering his viability.

  • x
  • Johnson leadership doubts resurface amid Partygate report
    Johnson leadership doubts resurface amid Partygate report.

Boris Johnson is in even more jeopardy as a result of the Partygate affair, with a source claiming that a fine was imposed for a second event attended by the prime minister, and top Conservatives warning that he might face a leadership challenge within weeks.

No. 10 was compelled to deny on Friday evening that Johnson had received another fixed penalty notice (FPN) for a "bring your booze" Downing Street garden party on May 20, 2020.

In January, Johnson admitted to attending the event for roughly 25 minutes during the first national lockdown, when indoor and outdoor social mixing was prohibited, but stated he "believed implicitly that this was a professional function." Martin Reynolds, Johnson's chief private secretary, is alleged to have invited up to 100 people to the "socially separated" evening cocktails.

According to the Guardian, at least one FPN was issued to a Downing Street staffer who attended the event on Friday. A spokeswoman for Johnson said he had not received a new fine as he returned from a two-day trade trip to India on Friday.

The Metropolitan Police announced on Thursday that it would not provide any updates on FPNs for Downing Street lockdown breaches until after next month's local elections "due to the restrictions around communicating" ahead of the 5 May vote, though criminal investigations and fines could still be issued.

Johnson's leadership challenge

This comes as senior party figures cautioned that if the Conservatives suffer big losses in the May elections, Boris Johnson will almost certainly face a leadership challenge.

The prime minister's support was "markedly reduced" as the government caved down and agreed to allow a third probe alleged lockdown violations, igniting new bidding wars among those trying to succeed him.

Related News

UK Byelection triggered after vote to remove MP Margaret Ferrier

UK government loses legal battle over Johnson's Covid messages

MPs said allies of Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, and Penny Mordaunt, the trade minister, had renewed covert plans for a leadership election.

Moreover, conservative peer and elections expert Robert Hayward said MPs, councilors, and Tory groups were concerned that the Partygate saga might drag on indefinitely. "I expect that there will be some sort of leadership struggle at some point, but not soon," he told the BBC. "However, support for the Prime Minister has been steadily eroding during the recess."

Given the many probes by Scotland Yard, senior civil servant Sue Gray, and now the Commons privileges committee, Hayward predicted Johnson's demise would be "death by a thousand cuts."

He stated that MPs were "searching about" for the best alternative for Johnson, adding, "They won't necessarily accept it, but that is the fact."

How will the elections turn out? 

A cabinet source reportedly predicted that the May 5 local elections will be as bad for the Conservatives as the 2019 European Parliament elections, in which the party received its lowest-ever share of the vote.

Former Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith said many MPs had not become more hostile to Johnson as a result of the bad handling of the vote concerning the prime minister being investigated for deceiving parliament.

However, he told the Guardian: “We’ll wait to see what happens at the end of this. The majority of the public is sick and tired of the story; Conservative MPs are sick and tired of the story.

“Colleagues may decide it is recoverable. If they reach the decision it’s too damaging, then it’s over. That balance is just sitting waiting. I fancy that the local elections and inquiry will put that to rest.”

Former health minister Steve Brine was also found to have advised a constituent that a vote of confidence in Johnson "should take place... sooner rather than later."

"This is not a sustainable condition," he wrote in an email, "and I believe additional FPNs will follow those given last week. I'll be working with top colleagues to ensure that confidence is put to the test in the coming months."

  • Partygate
  • United Kingdom
  • Boris Johnson

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS