Battered By Cabinet Resignations, Boris Johnson Vows To Fight On

Britain's Boris Johnson defiantly vowed on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, to battle on despite mounting calls for him to resign as prime minister, but his commitment was welcomed with derisive laughter during a parliamentary appearance, according to Reuters' Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, and Alistair Smout.

Photo Insert: In the most recent scandal, Johnson apologized for promoting a lawmaker to a position engaged in party welfare and discipline despite being informed that the politician had been the subject of sexual misconduct allegations.

Following the resignations of senior colleagues and junior ministers who suggested he was unable to govern, Johnson attempted to go on the offensive at parliament's weekly prime minister's questions session.

"The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances," is to keep going." Johnson said. "And that's what I'm going to do."

Some colleagues in Johnson's cabinet team of top ministers struggled to contain their laughter as the opposition Labor leader mocked his cabinet for being in the charge of the "lightweight brigade."

Business leaders have also blamed Johnson for the ongoing squabble with the European Union (EU) over Brexit, while striking rail workers slammed him for failing to help them ease their economic woes.

According to a recent YouGov poll, 69 percent of Britons believe Johnson should step down as Prime Minister, but for the time being, the rest of his top ministerial team has offered their support.

Johnson survived a confidence vote of Conservative legislators a month ago, and party rules prohibit him from facing another similar challenge for a year. However, parliamentarians are attempting to amend those restrictions, and he is also being investigated by a parliamentary committee for lying to parliament over COVID-19 lockdown violations.

These changes might be implemented as soon as Wednesday, at a meeting of the so-called 1922 Committee, which establishes the rules for leadership confidence votes.

In the most recent scandal, Johnson apologized for promoting a lawmaker to a position engaged in party welfare and discipline despite being informed that the politician had been the subject of sexual misconduct allegations.

Downing Street's account shifted multiple times regarding what the prime minister knew about the lawmaker who was forced to quit and when he learned it. Johnson's spokesman cited a gap in memory on the prime minister's part.

This latest episode forced Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Sajid Javid, the health secretary, to resign, while others left junior ministerial or diplomatic positions.

"It is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership - and you have therefore lost my confidence too," Javid wrote in his letter of resignation. Johnson's lack of judgment, standards, and capacity, to tell the truth, were cited by several ministers.

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