The British have increased the pressure on the punished prime minister
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday received a sentence for violating the covid-rules, after the police confirmed that he participated in several parties on Downing Street, his residence, at a time when the entire nation was locked in its homes due to the high number of coronavirus infections. Johnson has vowed to step down as prime minister despite angry calls for his resignation.
The Secretary Rishi Sunak, as well as Johnson's wife, Kerry, were also fined for attending a June 19, 2020, cabinet meeting. They were part of the 50 fines imposed by the London Police for violating the rules.
Johnson and Sunak are thought to be the first incumbent prime minister and secretary to be criminally sanctioned. Both senior politicians have been accused of misleading parliament by previously denying attending parties during the lockout.
However, Sunak did not make an immediate public statement, prompting some Tory lawmakers to speculate that he might resign after a catastrophic week in which his wife's tax affairs came under scrutiny. Such a move would put enormous pressure on Johnson to follow his example.
Johnson publicly apologized and rejected calls to resign, but his position in the coming weeks remains in jeopardy as police still investigate six more rallies he is said to have attended.
In a statement, Johnson said he "modestly admitted" that he had broken the rules, but also claimed that the birthday party lasted less than 10 minutes and that "it did not occur to him" that the event was wrong. He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture and that his confession had been obtained through torture.
But he added: "I fully respect the outcome of the police investigation. I understand the anger that many will feel that I myself have not been short when it comes to respecting the rules that the government I lead has introduced to protect the public. I sincerely accept that people have a right to expect better. "I now feel an even greater sense of obligation to meet the priorities of the British people."
Sunak apologized and said he deeply regretted the "frustration and anger" and confirmed that the 50 XNUMX fine had been paid.
But after hours of silence prompting Tories to speculate that he might resign, the secretary confirmed that he would remain in office, adding: "I am focused on working for the British people at this challenging time."
Sources close to the secretary have denied the Times report that he spent the day considering resigning.
A spokeswoman for Carrie Johnson said: "Although she believed she was acting in accordance with the rules at the time, Ms Johnson accepted the findings of the Metropolitan Police and apologized unreservedly."
Calls for resignation from the opposition
Labor leader Cyrus Starmer also called on the "culprits", Johnson and Sunak, to resign over "disparaging their offices". He said Johnson was "constantly lying to the public" and that his behavior was a "slap in the face" to anyone who followed the rules. "They have to leave," he said.
Nicole Sturgeon, Scotland's first minister and SNP leader, also called for the prime minister to step down. "Boris Johnson must resign," she said. "He broke the law and kept lying to parliament about it. The core values of integrity and decency - essential to the proper functioning of any parliamentary democracy - require him to leave. "And he should take his secretary with him without contact."
Both Labor and the Liberal Democrats have backed calls for parliament to be called off to discuss the sentences, but that is likely to be blocked by the government.
It comes after police said they had issued more than 50 notifications of fixed fines as a result of its investigation - up 30 from the last update two weeks ago. Police say there is still a "significant amount" of assessment material, which raises the possibility that there could be more fines for the prime minister.
New problems for Johnson
The reports put Johnson's leadership in new trouble, although its allies, such as Nadine Doris and Conor Barnes, have made clear their support for the prime minister. Liz Tras, Britain's foreign minister and potential future candidate for the presidency, also backed the prime minister, saying Johnson "apologized and took responsibility for what happened on Downing Street".
"He and the secretary are delivering results for Britain on many fronts, including the international security crisis we are facing. "They have my 100% support," she said.
Some Conservative lawmakers have previously suggested that the line be crossed by allowing the prime minister to remain in office if he is found to have broken the law. About 20-30 lawmakers were at one point thought to have sent letters of no confidence to the prime minister, and 54 were needed to trigger a leadership challenge.
However, many who have previously written letters of no confidence - Sir Roger Gale, Andrew Bridget and Douglas Ross - have said that now is not the time to change leadership given the instability caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
A senior Tory lawmaker, who has not yet submitted a letter of no confidence, said he doubted colleagues could decide that sentencing was enough to encourage 54 people to urge Johnson to leave. "I think there will be a no-confidence vote next week," they said.
If that does not happen, the prime minister could face an additional momentum of danger when a report by Sue Gray is released detailing how the parties went, following a police investigation.
Alternatively, the Conservatives' poor run in the May 5 local elections could also prompt more Tory lawmakers to lose faith in the prime minister's ability to respect the country.
