A Boris Johnson ally has resigned, precipitating a third by-election for the Conservatives and aggravating Rishi Sunak’s political woes.
Nigel Adams, like Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries, quit on Friday without explanation.
In a statement, Mr. Johnson denounced as a “witch hunt” a Partygate report investigating whether he intentionally lied to Parliament.
He was branded a “coward” by Labour.
Mr. Adams, a Cabinet Office minister without portfolio in the government of Mr. Johnson, had previously proclaimed he would not run in the upcoming general election but has now brought forward that decision.
In a tweet announcing his departure, the Member of Parliament for Selby and Ainsty stated that his local Conservative Association had chosen a new candidate for the House of Commons on Friday.
Byelections consume time, resources, and focus that the party would rather devote to governance and the general election.
There is widespread anger, if not surprise, at how Mr. Johnson and his allies have criticized the Commons Privileges Committee and the integrity of its members, who are obligated to put their party affiliation aside and not speak publicly about their report until it has been released.
Late Friday evening, Mr. Johnson issued a 1,000-word statement announcing his resignation as the representative for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
The committee was preparing to recommend a 10-day suspension for Mr. Johnson from the House of Commons, which would have prompted a recall petition from his constituents and possibly a by-election.
Mr. Johnson stated that the report draught he had seen was “riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of bias.”
He referred to the committee as a “kangaroo court” whose mission was “to find me guilty regardless of the facts.”
On Monday, the committee will finalise its findings and release them on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, stated that the former prime minister “jumped” and called him a “coward”.
Labour’s chairman of the Privileges Committee, Sir Chris Bryant, said it was conceivable that Mr. Johnson’s statement could lead to additional contempt of Parliament charges, as the report’s conclusion is not permitted to be revealed before publication, and Mr. Johnson had “effectively leaked” it.
Sir Chris, who had recused himself from the investigation into Mr. Johnson, stated that “attacks on the committee amount to an attack on the entire House.”
Former home secretary Priti Patel, who was made a dame as part of Mr. Johnson’s resignation honors list, which was also announced on Friday, praised the former prime minister, calling him a “political titan.”
Sir Michael Fabricant, an additional sitting member of parliament named in the resignation honors list, criticized the Privileges Committee for its “disgraceful treatment” of the former prime minister.
As of yet, neither Prime Minister Rishi Sunak nor any members of the Privileges Committee have issued a statement.
But privately, all Conservatives are discussing it and attempting to predict what will happen next.
The party’s participation in three unnecessary by-elections is frustrating.
The writing is on the wall
Boris Johnson’s unexpected departure followed that of Nadine Dorries, who had just announced her resignation as MP for Mid Bedfordshire.
Before the resignations of Mr. Johnson and Ms. Dorries, the Conservatives currently have a working majority of 64.
The Conservatives won the 2019 general election with an 80-seat majority under Mr. Johnson.
Bill Cash, the Conservative member of parliament for Stone in Staffordshire, announced on Saturday evening that he would not be running in the upcoming general election. In 1984, he was first elected.
Sir John Redwood, a Conservative backbencher, stated that Rishi Sunak must make a statement “urgently reassuring those who were very strong Boris fans and very strong Liz [Truss] fans that his party is for all Conservatives.”
He stated that the party’s offering to electors will require “a little Boris magic.”
Chris Patten, a prominent member of the Conservative Party, expressed his optimism that Mr. Johnson’s resignation “marks the end of a rather miserable period in British politics and for the Conservative Party.
Lord Patten, who served as party leader under John Major, dismissed claims that the Privileges Committee’s report was “anti-democratic.”
“Of course, it’s not,” he told. “What he means is that he has been criticized… he should stop whining about it and get on with what he does best, which is giving sloppy speeches and making a lot of money from them.”
An ex-advisor of Mr. Johnson said his MP resignation before the Partygate report did not terminate his political career.
Former foreign secretary Will Walden said Mr. Johnson “saw the writing on the wall.”
On Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr. Walden said he wouldn’t have run in a by-election he would lose.
“There is only one thing that motivates Boris, and that is his desire to win, or at least avoid defeat.”
He added, “Therefore, by proceeding as he has, with all guns blazing, he can avoid defeat and blame virtually everyone. Including, it would appear, anyone who voted Remain in 2016.”
When asked if this was the end for Mr. Johnson, he responded, “I don’t believe so. I’m not sure where we are on the spectrum of beginning, middle, and conclusion, but this is typical Boris.”
It is worthwhile to consider what individuals mean when they say “the end”
It may be the end of the road for him in the House of Representatives, although this is not certain. And it is not the end of the road in terms of his influence.
