Il government of Boris Johnson keep losing pieces. The last to jump ship was Exports and Equal Opportunities Minister Mike Freer. Before him it was the turn of Laura Trot, ministrial aide (something less than undersecretary) for Transport. These are yet another setback to Johnson's handling of the Pincher scandal, the latest in a long series. What attracted everyone's attention was the exit from the Government of the head of Health, Sajid Javid, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi sunak, de facto number two of the Tory team and head of economic policy.
In total, the Financial Times points out, more than 30 members of the government have resigned in the last 24 hours in protest against the leadership of Boris Johnson.
The Pincher scandal
In essence, Johnson is accused of having lied about Chris Pincher's past, a loyalist forced to resign as deputy chief whip last week for having groped two men in a gentlemen's club frequented by Tories, including a fellow deputy. The prime minister had been aware of this behavior by his collaborator for years, but at first he tried to deny everything, as he had already done in the case of the Partygate, the parties in Downing Street during the lockdown.
The chain resignations in the government
The premier's attempt to justify himself by saying he initially forgot to be informed over two years ago suspicions about Pincher's harassment did not convince Javid, who resigned saying he could no longer "serve in good conscience in this government". Sunak also communicated his decision shortly: "The people rightly expect the government to be conducted in an appropriate, competent and serious manner - reads the resignation letter - I think it is worth fighting for these standards and that is why that I resign". Then came the farewells of Quince and Trott to make matters worse.
This afternoon, the Minister of Exports and Equal Opportunities, Freer, justified his resignation by saying that he could no longer be part of a political formation "which has created a climate of hostility towards LGBT+ people and that he can no longer defend policies with which he disagrees.”
Johnson tries to resist
Despite everything, Johnson seems determined not to resign and to move forward. And he immediately launched a mini reshuffle: Steve Barclay, Downing Street's Chief of Staff, has been promoted to be the new Minister for Health, while Nadhim Zahawi is the new chancellor of the exchequer. Will that be enough to move forward? It is not clear: some commentators argue that the Johnson government will not make it to the end of the week. In any case, it is now certain that it will not be the current Premier who will lead the Conservatives in the next elections.
(Last update: 17.50 on 6 July).
