The Prime Minister's leadership is in the balance after a series of high-profile resignations threatened to force him from Number 10. Here we examine what went down on an explosive day.
– What has happened?
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid both highlighted concerns about the leadership in their respective resignation letters. The now ex-chancellor said “the public rightly expect Government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously” and “I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning”.
He also hinted at splits on economic policy, pointing to the need to “work hard, make sacrifices and take difficult decisions”. A planned joint speech with the Prime Minister had made it clear “our approaches are fundamentally too different”.
Javid said the public had concluded that under Johnson the Tories were not “competent in acting in the national interest” and the Prime Minister could not offer “humility, grip and new direction”.
– Why now?
The Prime Minister’s judgment has once again been called into question over his handling of the Chris Pincher row. The former deputy chief whip quit last week after he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed myself” at the exclusive Carlton Club, where he allegedly assaulted two male guests.
But Johnson was forced into a humiliating apology after admitting he knew about previous inappropriate behaviour by Pincher when he was a Foreign Office minister in 2019, but still made him deputy chief whip. Asked if it was an error to give Pincher a role in Government, he said: “I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it.”
– Any other causes of concern?
Plenty. Just last month saw 41 per cent of Tory MPs say they had no confidence in the Prime Minister, with issues including his personal style, economic policy and the Sue Gray report into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street motivating the rebels.
Some Tory MPs were prepared to back Mr Johnson, who led the party to a landslide electoral win in 2019, because of his popularity with voters. But the by-election defeats in Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield, which led to the resignation of Tory chairman Oliver Dowden, cast doubt on the idea of Johnson remaining an electoral asset to the party.
– What next for Sunak and Javid?
They both have leadership ambitions and are in a position to inflict further wounds on the Prime Minister. As resigning ministers they have the opportunity to make statements in the Commons explaining their reasons.
Those with long memories in Westminster recall Geoffrey Howe’s devastating resignation statement in 1990 which helped topple Margaret Thatcher.
– Is it just the usual suspects that the Prime Minister needs to worry about?
Jonathan Gullis, MP for Red Wall seat Stoke-on-Trent North and previously a Johnson loyalist, resigned as a ministerial aide. “I feel for too long we have been more focused on dealing with our reputational damage rather than delivering for the people of this country and spreading opportunity for all, which is why I came into politics,” he said.
But the Prime Minister could continue to count on staunch allies Conor Burns and Nadine Dorries who both gave public messages of support.
– So is this the end?
It’s only days since Johnson said he was looking ahead to a third term in office which would keep him in No 10 into the 2030s, so resigning does not appear to be on his mind. Unless the remaining Cabinet ministers tell him the game is up, the main source of danger for the PM may be another attempt by backbenchers to oust him.
For that to happen, the rules of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers will need to be changed to allow another confidence vote within 12 months. Unhappily for the Prime Minister, vacancies on the committee’s executive could be filled by critics who are ready to make that rule change.
Allies of Johnson warned that would leave any successor as Tory leader with a “gun to their head” and the prospect of a confidence vote at any time if the threshold of 15 per cent of MPs calling for one is met.
– Can he survive?
Under normal political rules, a Prime Minister in Johnson’s position would probably already be calling the removal vans to Downing Street. But Johnson has made a career out of defying political gravity and still has a comfortable Commons majority.
David Cameron suggested his fellow Old Etonian Mr Johnson is a “greased piglet” and the Prime Minister may yet find a way to save his bacon.
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