Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the UK Conservative Party. A successor will be appointed and will become the new prime minister of this country. To better understand the crisis that is shaking this European power, here is what you need to know.
What you need to know
- Pro-Brexit champion Boris Johnson is elected leader of the Conservative Party on July 23, 2019;
- Ultra-popular, in December 2019 he won a historic majority in the House of Commons for the Conservatives;
- In April 2021, the Prime Minister has been criticized since the start of the pandemic for his management of the crisis;
- The Prime Minister’s party is still gaining ground against Labor in local elections on May 6, 2021;
- The “partygate” scandal, its variable explanations, the police investigation and the administrative inquiry denouncing the lax culture in Downing Street got the better of the confidence of the country;
- Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence from members of his Conservative Party on June 6. More than 40% of MPs say they no longer have confidence in the Prime Minister;
- Boris Johnson’s approval rating had fallen from 66% favorable opinions in April 2020 to 23% at the end of June;
- Between 69% and 72% of Britons wanted him to quit, according to two polls this week;
- A final scandal, that of the deputy chief “whip”, accused of touching and whose past Mr. Johnson knew, was the last nail in his coffin;
- On July 7 at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. GMT, 5 a.m. EDT), nearly 60 cabinet members resigned.
On video – Excerpt from Boris Johnson’s departure speech
The end of the Brexit hero
Exit the Brexit hero: Boris Johnson dreamed of making history as one of Britain’s longest-serving prime ministers, but his luck ran out after three years of a particularly turbulent term.
Who will replace Boris Johnson?
The resignation of Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party paves the way for his replacement as Prime Minister. Several names have already been mentioned: Defense Minister Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Penny Mordaunt, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Minister Liz Truss.
Three turbulent years in power
Having come to power triumphantly in the summer of 2019, Boris Johnson spent three years at the head of the British government. Discredited by the scandals, the one who clung to power at all costs ended up resigning from the head of the conservative party, pushed towards the exit by his own camp.
On video – headlines from UK newspapers and tabloids
Boris Johnson clings against all odds
Journalist Marc Thibodeau looks back on what set fire to the powder in the British political class.
Touching accusations: Boris Johnson’s government again shaken by a scandal
Already weakened by scandals, Boris Johnson faces a new headache in the United Kingdom on Friday: the resignation of a member of his government after accusations of touching, the latest in a series of sexual affairs in his side.
Partygate : Boris Johnson harshly criticized for sloppiness in Downing Street
While the British locked themselves in to protect themselves from COVID-19, alcohol flowed freely during the pots organized in Downing Street: the administrative investigation into “partygate” drew harsh conclusions on Wednesday for Boris Johnson, determined to remain at his post.
