Boris Johnson denied claims that Michael Gove is among those urging him to resign, saying that it would be irresponsible to do so despite his situation appearing to be getting worse.
When testifying before the influential Liaison Committee, the prime minister claimed that, “of course,” he would still be in office the following day and called the notion that the government was mired in inactivity “nonsense.”
During one exceptional conversation, Mr. Johnson was asked how his week was doing, to which he replied, “Terrific.”
When asked by Darren Jones of Labour how he could continue to hold onto power when his government is falling apart, the prime minister responded that the nation was going through “difficult times” and was facing the biggest conflict in Europe in 80 years.
When you have a mandate like the one we got two or three years ago, Mr. Johnson said, “I cannot for the life of me see how it is responsible just to walk away from it.”
He dodged the question of whether Mr. Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, had persuaded him to confess he is done at a meeting this morning. Mr. Gove is known for stabbing Mr. Johnson in the back to end his leadership chances in 2016.
The intervention, which Mail+ discovered, came to light as things continued to spiral out of Mr. Johnson’s control, with chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris appearing to be in despair and ministers writing out letters of resignation in bulk.
Kemi Badenoch, Julia Lopez, Lee Rowley, Neil O’Brien, and Alex Burghart, five ministers, wrote a combined letter urging him to step down.
The roll call of departing government members now includes Mims Davies, Rachel Maclean, and Mike Freer as well. The majority of people now think that the question is how long rather than if the PM will survive.
One senior Tory aide bitterly remarked, “We will need some ministers to stay to keep the lights on through the leadership contest,” in response to the size of the losses.
After announcing his shocking resignation, Sajid Javid today delivered a scathing farewell speech, declaring that “the team is only as good as the team captain.”
The former health secretary made a personal address to the Commons immediately following PMQs while Mr. Johnson stood by in silence. She added that upholding “honesty and integrity matters.”
He claimed to have given Mr. Johnson the “benefit of the doubt” for many months, but asserted that there was a limit after which “enough is enough.”
Mr. Javid made it apparent that the Chris Pincher situation had been the breaking point when he said that ministers had been dispatched numerous times to defend positions that “don’t hold up.”
We have cause to doubt the veracity and integrity of what has been told to us all once again this week. And eventually we have to say, “Enough is enough,” he remarked.
“I think that time is now,” you say.
Mr. Javid issued a stern warning to ministers who made the decision to remain in office, saying that “not doing something is an active decision.”
The comment brought to mind Geoffrey Howe’s resignation speech from office in 1990, which played a role in Margaret Thatcher’s downfall. A small consolation for the premier is that Rishi Sunak does not intend to make a similar declaration.
It happened shortly after Mr. Johnson faced a barrage of criticism as he attempts valiantly to hang on despite a large number of additional ministers quitting and even some of his supporters turning against him.
One of those who has withdrew confidence is Robert Jenrick, who along with Oliver Dowden and Rishi Sunak was an early supporter of the PM’s leadership ambitions.
With his chances of surviving seeming more slim, Mr. Johnson rose to his feet in the chamber and quipped that it is a “huge day” since the government is enacting “the biggest tax reduction in a decade.”
With the new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Dominic Raab by his side, Mr. Johnson rebuffed a barrage of criticism from Keir Starmer by asserting that Europe was engaged in the “greatest battle in 80 years” and that he was carrying out his duties.
When Tory MP Tim Loughton rose to ask the prime minister if there were “any conditions” in which he might resign, the premier became visibly enraged.
The responsibility of a prime minister is to keep going, he declared, adding that he had been given a “colossal mandate” and will “hang on in there” to “win another general election.” That’s what I’m going to do as well.
Gary Sambrook, a Birmingham Northfield MP and executive secretary of the 1922 Committee, reported to the House that Mr. Johnson had been making the claim that “there were seven people, MPs, in the Carlton Club last week and one of them should have tried to intervene to stop Chris from drinking so much” in a “attempt to boost morale in the tearoom.”
As if it wasn’t disrespectful enough to the individuals who did attempt to step in that evening, he continued. The victims were also told that drinking was the issue.
Isn’t it an example that the prime minister continuously tries to sidestep the problem, always seeks to lay blame for errors, and has no other option except to accept responsibility and resign?
In his response, Mr. Johnson noted that the question had received cheers from Labour MPs.
They want me out for a very straightforward reason—they know we will carry out our mandate and win another general election if they don’t get me out. And it is the truth, he said.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, a minister for Brexit, was called upon to defend the PM in TV studios last night, claiming there is no “constitutional” reason to do so.
When asked if he would actually make it through another Tory vote of confidence, Mr. Rees-Mogg responded to Sky News, “He might very well win another.”
However, Mr. Javid informed the PM in his resignation letter that he was unable to continue serving in this government out of a clear conscience.
Although I naturally work well in a group, the British people also have a right to expect integrity from their government.
Mr. Javid left the Johnson administration a second time on moral grounds in 2020 while serving as Chancellor after being informed that he could not select his own special advisers.
In response, Mr. Johnson said he was “sorry” to learn of Mr. Javid’s resignation, but added that his administration would “continue to deliver” on its plans for the NHS.
Dear Saj, The Prime Minister wrote in a brief letter: We appreciate your resignation letter, which you submitted. I was incredibly sorry to get it.
“You have distinguished yourself in your service to this Government and the people of the United Kingdom.”
Mr. Johnson commended the “outstanding service” of Mr. Sunak. He apologised for getting your letter of resignation from the government.
“You have served the nation admirably during the most trying time in our economy’s peacetime history,” the president said.
He mentioned the furlough program, Mr. Sunak’s efforts to fix the state budget and the post-pandemic economic recovery.
This is the reason I am unable to continue serving in your government.
Who is still employed by the government and who has left?
Nicola Richards, a Conservative MP, resigned from her position as PPS to the Department of Transport because she “cannot serve under the current conditions.”
The West Bromwich East MP tweeted: “I cannot bring myself to serve as a PPS under the current circumstances, when the focus is skewed by poor judgment that I don’t wish to be connected with. At a time when my people are worried about the cost of living and I am doing my utmost to support them.
“I will always put my constituents first because I am committed to them.”
I also support the Conservative Party, which I can no longer recognize. I think there needs to be a change.
Just before the drama last night began, the PM admitted he should have fired Mr. Pincher when he learned about the allegations made against him in 2019 while he was a minister at the Foreign Office. However, Mr. Johnson continued to nominate him to various government positions.
The prime minister responded, “I think it was a mistake and I’m sorry for it,” when asked if that was a mistake. In retrospect, it was the incorrect action to do.
I sincerely apologize to everyone who was negatively impacted by it.
I want to be very clear that anyone who is predatory or who abuses their position of power has no place in this government.
Losing chancellors, according to Mr. Rees-Mogg, “is something that occurs.”
According to him, calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister as a result of such activities represents a “18th-century” understanding of cabinet government, he told Sky News.
He claimed that the Prime Minister is “not someone who is brought down by Cabinet ministers” and that the Prime Minister appoints Cabinet members.
In his letter responding to Mr. Sunak yesterday, Mr. Johnson adopted a conciliatory stance.
He said in his letter, “I was sorry to receive your letter resigning from the Government.”
“You have served the nation well during the most trying time in our economy’s peacetime history,” the president said.
He mentioned the furlough program, Mr. Sunak’s efforts to fix the state budget and the post-pandemic economic recovery.
‘I have enormously valued your advice and deep commitment to public service and will miss working with you in government,’ he concluded.