Boris Johnson saved his head.

The former mayor of London will still be Prime Minister tomorrow, and will remain so for at least another year, despite the “Partygate” scandal that has rocked 10 Downing Street for many months.

The successive revelations and investigations into the organization of alcoholic parties at the heart of British power in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic have indeed made "BoJo" waver and undermined his authority, but the majority of his party has reinforced him in his duties at the head of the British executive on Monday.

20 Minutes

explains the latest developments in this case.

What is Partygate?

At the beginning of January, the ITV television channel reveals that a small party was organized in a room of the Council of Ministers on June 19, 2020, on the occasion of Boris Johnson's birthday.

Problem, at that time, the whole kingdom was still confined due to the first wave of coronavirus, with very strong restrictions on gatherings.

The Prime Minister thinks of fanning the controversy by explaining that he went there in a hurry, but the revelations are linked.

Garden parties, pots on Friday, and even a small party the day before Prince Philipp's funeral, it's almost a tradition of the toast that is highlighted by the media.

Boris Johnson apologizes on January 12 before the House, then before the Queen.

In parallel, two investigations are launched: the first is placed under the aegis of Sue Gray, a senior official responsible for writing a report on the excesses of 10 Downing Street, the second launched by the police.

The head of government even received an unprecedented fine in this case.

Why is Boris Johnson so controversial?

The behavior of the Conservative government, accused of partying while the British could not go to the hospital to say goodbye to their dying loved ones, is shocking.

But the distrust of Boris Johnson, criticized for his mismanagement of the epidemic, is broader.

Accused of having been slow to take action and of having insufficiently protected the residents of retirement homes, the former mayor of London even suffered a revolt within his own party, when 99 deputies from his camp had voted against the establishment of a health pass for major events.

More personal criticism has emerged, including of the luxurious refurbishment of 11 Downing Street, which 'BoJo' is occupying with his family, paid for with the undeclared donation of a backer from the curator.

Another clumsiness, the attempt to change the rules in Parliament to prevent MP Owen Paterson, accused of lobbying the government, from being suspended.

Pure "corruption", according to the opposition.

Finally, the economic situation is finishing up to weigh down the confidence of the British in their Prime Minister, with inflation of 9% over one year in April, a record pushed by the war in Ukraine.

Is the case really closed?

Faced with a vote of no confidence within his party on Monday at the request of 54 MPs, Boris Johnson finally saved his head.

Of the 359 Conservative MPs who voted, 211 voted in favor of the Prime Minister, against 148 who refused him their confidence.

This represents all the same a considerable group of slingers, likely to hinder the action of the government.

For the media and the opposition, who recall that Theresa May had resigned a few months after a similar vote, "the party is over, Boris".

But the Prime Minister categorically refuses to resign.

And his victory gives him a year of immunity, without being able to be targeted by another motion.

But his party came out divided, and his very low popularity cast doubt on his ability to win the 2024 legislative elections. A third investigation is also planned as part of "Partygate", this time in Parliament.

If his conclusions, expected for the autumn, show that Boris Johnson lied before the House of Commons by claiming not to have broken the rules, he is supposed to resign.

World

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson saves his job by winning the confidence vote of Conservative MPs

World

Covid-19 in Great Britain: MPs open an investigation against Boris Johnson in the “partygate” affair

  • World

  • UK

  • Boris Johnson

  • Covid-19

  • Investigation

  • London

  • Party