Faced with the “Partygate” scandal, Boris Johnson refuses to resign

Targeted by two investigations and a revolt within his own party, the Prime Minister went on the counterattack, this Wednesday, January 26 before Parliament.

AFP - JESSICA TAYLOR

Text by: Daniel Vallot Follow

4 mins

Caught in the turmoil of "Partygate" and these private parties organized in Downing Street while the country was in full confinement, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded with great combativeness to the attacks of the opposition this Wednesday in Parliament. 

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On the defensive in recent weeks, Boris Johnson has obviously chosen to go on the counterattack.

Faced with the barrage from the opposition, the British Prime Minister proved intractable this Wednesday during the traditional and very trying question session in Parliament.

His opponent, Labor Party leader Keir Starmer, kept asking him the same question: “ 

 “, Boris Johnson has continued to respond in the negative.

“

 » 

This time, neither excuses nor acts of contrition;

Boris Johnson replies that an investigation is underway and that he does not have to comment on it;

and he evacuates the subject by talking about the Covid, the economy or even the risk of war in Ukraine.

The strategy is therefore clearly to move on pending the outcome of two investigations, that of the police and that organized internally within the Prime Minister's Office, into the private parties organized in Downing Street during confinement. 

Boris Johnson stands up to Parliament

Emily Wine

Decisive investigations 

The results of these investigations will undoubtedly be decisive for the future of the Prime Minister. The investigation opened by the police can lead to fines which would be imposed for non-compliance with the rules of confinement – ​​the political effect would obviously be devastating. The internal investigation will also be decisive. It is led by Sue Gray, a formidable and feared senior civil servant, who has spent the last few weeks going through the emails, the text messages exchanged at 10 Downing Street, watching the surveillance videos, questioning the police officers in charge of security…  

This report will be strictly factual, but it will also be of crucial importance with an element that could turn everything upside down: did Boris Johnson lie to the British Parliament by claiming that he was not aware of the festive nature of these gatherings?

If the investigation shows that he lied, it is unlikely that he will be able to stay in his post... 

internal sling  

It will be all the more difficult for him to stay in power as the challenge is not solely due to the opposition: even within his party, Boris Johnson is today highly criticized.

The British are sincerely shocked to see that their leader did not observe the very harsh rules imposed on them during periods of confinement.

His popularity rating is plummeting and the deputies of his party are worried about their own re-election.

The scenario of a vote of no confidence within the Tory party then takes shape.

This would require 54 Conservative MPs to request it.

This would not be a first for the Conservative Party: in 1990 Margaret Thatcher was forced to resign following an internal rebellion, leaving room for John Major.  

Despite everything, Boris Johnson retains, for the moment, support within his own party.

So much so that the spectacular defection of a Conservative MP on January 19, in the middle of a parliamentary session, had the opposite effect to that expected by somewhat dampening the protesters' ardor and allowing the Conservative leader to rekindle the flame of the unity within his own party.

Boris Johnson is also known for his ability to get out of

inextricable situations.

His whole career is peppered with provocations and scandals – including when he was a journalist, before entering politics.

"BoJo" has a pretty amazing ability to pull himself out of trouble and he's proven it time and time again, including since becoming prime minister.   

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