Boris Johnson’s shock resignation from parliament Friday has led to infighting within Britain’s ruling Conservatives as the party works to stem heavy losses from last month’s local elections.
The former prime minister gave up his seat in the British parliament in protest over a probe into his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations that he was holding parties at his Downing Street office and residence while the country was in the grips of a strict lockdown.
In his resignation letter Friday, Johnson blasted the investigation about whether he lied to the British parliament about the parties, adding that lawmakers had not found “a shred of evidence” against him.
He accused the parliamentary committee conducting the probe of trying to “drive me out.”
Johnson was ousted as Prime Minister in July 2022 amid ethics scandals.
Conservative lawmakers loyal to Johnson praised his record on Saturday.
“Well done Rishi for starting this nonsense!!” legislator Andrea Jenkyns wrote in a Conservative Party WhatsApp group. Jenkyns, who received an honorary title from Johnson on Friday, blamed current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the divisions in the party
“Sunak supporters used resignations to drive Boris and his supporters from office,” veteran Conservative lawmaker John Redwood told Reuters, referring to Sunak’s decision to leave Johnson’s administration last year. “To avoid resignations from parliament the PM has to take the party in a direction more MPs want to go in and use more of its talent”
In May, the Conservative party lost hundreds of seats in local elections — a test of Sunak’s hold on power in the country.
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June 10, 2023 at 10:55PM
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