The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is facing increasing pressure to step down in the midst of a wave of resignations within his government. A number of Conservative politicians, including the health secretary and chancellor, have stepped down, citing a loss of faith in Johnson’s leadership following a string of scandals and political unrest.
In response to the mounting pressure, Johnson swiftly appointed replacements for the resigning Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid. However, more resignations on Wednesday have left the Prime Minister precariously holding onto power.
One of the recent scandals involves Chris Pincher, a lawmaker who resigned from his position as a government whip amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite calls for further action against Pincher, the government announced that he would retain his job as an MP, sparking outrage among Conservative MPs.
This is not the first time that allegations of sexual misconduct have surfaced against Pincher, who was appointed to the position of deputy chief whip by Johnson. The Prime Minister initially claimed to be unaware of the allegations before Pincher’s appointment, but reports have since revealed that Johnson was informed of a formal complaint against Pincher in 2019-20 and personally briefed about it.
In addition to the Pincher scandal, Johnson has faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been embroiled in the ‘Partygate’ scandal, stemming from parties and gatherings at Downing Street during pandemic lockdowns. Johnson was fined by the police in April for attending a birthday party during lockdown in June 2020.
The mounting pressure and series of scandals have placed Johnson in a precarious position, with calls for his resignation growing louder as his government faces upheaval.