The abrupt resignation of embattled British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has continued to elicit a flurry of reactions.
Johnson came under severe public scrutiny over a series of allegations and misconducts but the Chris Pincher affair was the final straw.
He is the third consecutive United Kingdom Prime Minister in the Conservative Party to resign his position.
A lot of the ministers resigned from Johnson’s cabinet, citing a loss of confidence in the Prime Minister
The Nation reports pressure had piled on Johnson as New Education Secretary Michelle Donelan and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, resigned.
Ministers Helen Whately, Damian Hinds, George Freeman, Guy Opperman, Chris Philp, and James Cartlidge had earlier stepped down.
Home Secretary Priti Patel and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps were among those who asked Johnson to step down.
Speaking outside No. 10 Downing St on Thursday, Johnson said it is clearly the will of his party that he should resign and there should be a new leader.
Scandals including accusations of using donor money inappropriately to pay for a refurbishment of his Downing Street home and ordering MPs to vote in such a way that would protect a colleague who had breached lobbying rules contributed to his resignation.
Other issues including illegal, COVID-19 lockdown-breaking parties thrown in his Downing Street offices for which he and others were fined, current economic hardship faced by Britons also contributed.
Here are the likely reasons which contributed to Johnson’s resignation:
1. Chris Pincher scandal: On Wednesday 29 June, the MP Chris Pincher – at the time, the Conservative deputy chief whip – went to a private members’ club in London. In his words, he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed himself”.
He was accused of groping two men, which led to a flurry of allegations, some dating back years. It set off a chain of events that ended with the prime minister’s downfall.
2. Partygate: In April 2022, the former Prime Minister was fined for breaking lockdown rules after attending a gathering on his birthday in June 2020
3. Owen Paterson vs Boris Johnson: In October 2021, a House of Commons committee recommended a 30-day suspension for then-Conservative MP Owen Paterson.
The committee said he broke lobbying rules, to try to benefit companies who paid him.
But the Conservatives – led by the Prime Minister – voted to pause his suspension and set up a new committee to look at how investigations were carried out.
4. Resignations: The resignations among the Conservative Party especially from ministers to top officials contributed to Johnson’s woes.
Led by Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, over 50 members of Johnson’s government resigned.
5. Allegations of misconduct: Johnson’s critics kept on pressuring the embattled prime minister with series of allegations.
All these allegations made him resign from his position. His resignation will pave the way for a successor to replace him.