Are Boris Johnson’s Days in Office Numbered?

Al-Ittihad, UAE, February 3

In 2019, Britain’s Conservative Party won a landslide victory in the general election and secured a majority of 80 seats in parliament. The results represented a personal victory for Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson, who had been chosen for the post only four months earlier. As for the Labor party, led by the radical leftist Jeremy Corbyn, the election results marked the party’s worst defeat since 1935. The scale of Johnson’s victory was made possible because large numbers of historical Labor voters in the industrial heartland of England turned away from Corbyn, destroying the so-called “red wall” that had guaranteed Labor victories in the past. Indeed, it was easy to understand the main reasons for Johnson’s victory: he was a brilliant politician, well known by the British public since his days as mayor of London. Moreover, his demeanor and jovial nature contrasted sharply with his opponent, the weak and unpopular Labor leader who was shunned even by a majority of moderates within his own party. Shortly after the election, Corbyn resigned and was replaced by the more moderate Sir Keir Starmer. Johnson’s victory gave him a parliamentary majority with which he could complete negotiations with the European Union in order to implement Britain’s withdrawal from the Union (“Brexit”). But Johnson didn’t have much time to relax, because in early 2020, the world began facing an unprecedented epidemic. Britain was one of the first countries to be seriously affected by COVID-19, so it began to impose strict restrictions on social gatherings in an attempt to contain the virus. These policies, and how they were applied, are the cause of Johnson’s troubles today, and may be the reason he ultimately loses his position as prime minister. Since the spring of 2020, British government rules have banned social gatherings of more than two people, and nearly 100,000 significant fines have been imposed on violators of those rules so far. The restrictions extended to all events and occasions, such as birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and even the popular British Christmas parties that take place during the months of November and December each year. But several leaks now confirm that, while the public was subjected to these strict policies, Prime Minister Johnson and his staff held and attended social gatherings that would be considered illegal. News of these abuses became so common that Sue Gray, the chief civil servant in charge of overseeing government ethics, was asked to open a formal investigation into Johnson’s conduct. On January 31, Gray released a preliminary report that found “misjudgment” by the Cabinet Office, and concluded that several events “should not have been allowed to occur.” The report added that “excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permissible at any time in a professional workplace.” A longer report containing more details is expected to be published soon. As a result, Johnson is facing a barrage of criticism, including from members of his own party, with many calling for him to resign. So far, Johnson refuses to consider that option, but if enough members of his party decide that it’s time for him to go, his current premiership will come to an end. However, if he somehow manages to survive, he would be so weakened that any new mistakes he makes could prove fatal, and then a new party leader and a new prime minister would emerge. —Geoffrey Kemp (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)