Health Ministers Sajid Javid and Finance Ministers Rishi Sunak announced their resignations within minutes of each other on Tuesday evening, tired of the repeated scandals that have rocked the Johnson government for months.
In the process, other less senior members of the government also threw in the towel.
Once again touched but not sunk, Boris Johnson will defend his post at noon in Parliament during the weekly session of questions to the Prime Minister which promises to be electric.
Finally, according to a survey by the YouGov institute published on Tuesday, 69% of British voters believe that Boris Johnson should resign.
Despite signs of support, will the British Prime Minister be able to survive this umpteenth crisis?
20 Minutes
takes stock.
Tired of repeated scandals, members of the British government, including two senior ministers, slammed the door in less than two days.
These serial resignations are a new blow for the already weakened Boris Johnson.
Touched but not sunk, will the British Prime Minister be able to survive this umpteenth crisis, he who has always refused to consider resigning?
20 Minutes
takes stock of this “collapsing government”, according to Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer.
Who are the British ministers who have thrown in the towel?
Health Minister Sajid Javid, 52, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, explaining in a letter posted on Twitter that the head of government had "lost his confidence".
He was followed minutes later by Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, 42.
The public rightfully expects government to be conducted in a 'competent and serious manner' and 'this is why I am resigning', Rishi Sunak wrote in his letter to Boris Johnson.
I have spoken to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care.
It has been an enormous privilege to serve in this role, but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience.
pic.twitter.com/d5RBFGPqXp
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 5, 2022
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In the aftermath, this Wednesday morning, other members of the government, less senior this time, also threw in the towel: the Secretary of State for Children and the Family, Will Quince, as well as an assistant to the Secretary of State for Transport.
Will Quince announced his departure, judging that he had "no choice" after repeating "in good faith" in the media elements provided by the Prime Minister's office "which turned out to be inaccurate".
Laura Trott resigned, judging that trust was "lost".
Who replaces these resigning ministers?
Boris Johnson has indeed already appointed replacements: Nadhim Zahawi, former Minister of Education, takes over the Finance portfolio, while Steve Barclay, hitherto in charge of government coordination, inherits Health.
At the same time, it should be noted that loyal ministers have reaffirmed their support for BoJo, such as Nadine Dorries, in charge of Culture.
It is sometimes "easy to leave", but "much more difficult" to implement reforms for the country, said Nadhim Zahawi on SkyNews.
Why do these ministers evoke a "lost" confidence to justify their resignation?
Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak announced their resignation after Boris Johnson had just publicly apologized, acknowledging that he had made a "mistake" in appointing Chris Pincher to his government in February, who resigned last week after being accused of touching two men.
Downing Street had initially denied having been made aware of older accusations against this deputy chief “whip”, responsible for the parliamentary discipline of Conservative MPs.
A version discredited by a former senior official, pushing Downing Street to recognize the facts.
This Pincher case is only "the icing on the cake" for the two ministers, however, according to Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.
Boris Johnson was, in fact, already considerably weakened by the “Partygate”, this affair of parties organized in Downing Street, despite the restrictions introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It earned him a fine and a vote of no confidence from his own side, which BoJo narrowly survived last month.
Three things to know about Boris Johnson and Partygate https://t.co/IHchBXVX5a
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There have been several sexual cases in Parliament: an MP suspected of rape was arrested and then released on bail in mid-May, another resigned in April for watching pornography in the House on his mobile phone, and a former member was sentenced in May to eighteen months in prison for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy.
Why is this Wednesday a new day at risk for Boris Johnson?
Boris Johnson is preparing for a tough face-to-face with British MPs.
And resigning ministers Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak will be seated among other Tory MPs for what promises to be even busier than usual weekly Prime Minister's Questions.
Determined to stay, Boris Johnson will therefore once again defend his position at noon in Parliament.
He will then face the chairmen of the main committees of the House of Commons, including some of his most virulent opponents among the Tories.
But, by the way, can BoJo really remain Prime Minister?
He has always ruled out resigning.
Even after the heavy defeats in the partial legislative elections in June.
Even after the shock resignation of the chairman of his conservative party Oliver Dowden, who in a scathing letter dropped a “we cannot continue as if nothing had happened (…) Someone must take responsibility”.
Even after the sprawling “Partygate” scandal, BoJo is still there, clinging to Downing Street.
But while these resignations take place in a social climate tense by inflation (at its highest for forty years and at the origin of strikes in several sectors of activity), will the Prime Minister be able to survive this umpteenth crisis? ?
Even within its ranks, the question seems quickly answered: “It is time for Boris to go.
He can let this drag on for a few hours if he wants.
But I and much of the party are now determined that he is gone before the summer break: the sooner the better,” said Tory MP Andrew Bridgen.
The British are entitled to expect "integrity from their government", said Sajid Javid on resigning: "I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this will not be the cases under your leadership.
As for David Frost, ex-Secretary of State in charge of Brexit who resigned in December, he judged that these series of resignations were justified, and called on Boris Johnson to resign before worsening the situation: "If he hangs on, he risks dragging the party and the government down with him.
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Our file on Boris Johnson
According to a poll by the YouGov institute published on Tuesday, 69% of British voters believe that Boris Johnson should resign.
More than half (54%) of Conservative voters in 2019 believe the Prime Minister should leave office.
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