In breaking global news, Boris Johnson has turned his back on being the British prime minister. The most asked question by people all over the world is what led to his resignation. The follow-up: what happens next for the United Kingdom’s governance?
Boris Johnson’s decision to resign appears to have come mostly from a place of internal party pressure, a mutiny if anything. As he noted in a national address, “it is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore, a new prime minister.”
His comment and the ultimate decision followed what is being called a revolt within the Conservative Party. It was a rocky road that saw over 50 ministers quit, as well as other lawmakers saying he must go, as Reuters reports.
The theme of Johnson’s resignation has been called “bowing to the inevitable.”
The series of resignations that followed the prime ministers have largely been linked to scandals that clouded Johnson’s name.
Some of the biggest scandals include the illegal prorogation of parliament, where he was accused of bending rules his way as well as being accused of forcing MPs to vote in favour of overturning a fellow MPs suspension, and of course the Partygate scandal which saw parties at Downing Street captured in defiance of lockdown, as CNN records.
Keri Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour party had previously said that if the Conservatives didn’t get rid of him, a vote of no confidence would’ve come into effect by the Labour Party in pursuit of national interest, as per BusinessDay.
What’s next for the UK?
Johnson noted in his speech that he would be staying on until his successor was appointed, and according to a snap YouGov poll, defence minister Ben Wallace is looking to be the favourite amongst the Conservative Party.
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Picture: Twitter/ Cyril Ramaphosa