The head of the British government survived the vote of no confidence from the deputies of his Conservative Party provoked by rebellious exasperated scandals like the “partygate”, these parties in Downing Street during the anti-Covid confinements.
Even if he cannot be targeted by another motion of no confidence for a year, his delicate mission is to seduce his troops and his electorate again, scalded by scandals and strangled by inflation, at their highest in 40 year.
He therefore approaches his return to the deputies on Wednesday in a weak position, with more than four out of ten deputies from his camp (148 out of the 359 voters) having indicated that they did not trust him.
The damage is “considerable”, warned former Conservative leader William Hague in The Times.
“Words have been spoken that cannot be retracted, reports issued that cannot be erased and votes cast that show a level of rejection greater than ever for a Conservative leader.”
Despite the relief of having convinced a majority of Tory MPs, Boris Johnson has therefore not finished with the repercussions of the “partygate”.
– Parliamentary inquiry –
After those of the police and senior civil servant Sue Gray, another investigation, this time parliamentary, is planned. If the latter concludes, a priori in the fall, that Boris Johnson deceived the House of Commons by claiming not to have broken the rules, he is supposed to resign.
Two by-elections on June 23 will also have test value for the conservative leader who rules out the possibility of early legislative elections, with the elections to be held in 2024.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, very critical of the Prime Minister, goes so far as to believe that Boris Johnson “should now leave” and resign.
Tobias Ellwood, another Tory MP who called on Mr Johnson to resign, predicted that the Prime Minister would only survive in office for “a few months”.
Several names circulate of possible candidates for his succession.
Among them is Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has lost ground because of his fortune and the tax arrangements of his wealthy wife, frowned upon in a context of crisis in purchasing power.
