UK’S JOHNSON SUFFERS MAJOR BLOW AS HEALTH AND FINANCE MINISTERS QUIT

Tue 05 July 2022:

Amidst scandals involving the Boris Johnson government, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned on Tuesday, July 5.

The British pound hit a fresh March 2020 low after the announcements. The currency was down 1.5% for the session, hitting 1.1923 against the dollar.

The UK government announced their resignation, as Johnson came under fire for handling a sleaze scandal involving a senior colleague.

“The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning” In his resignation letter, Finance Minister Sunak wrote.

In his resignation letter to Johnson, Javid said that “it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too”.

The unexpected resignations have thrown Johnson’s government into chaos. Following his apology for hiring Chris Pincher to a government position, the UK Prime Minister has come under fire. Misconduct is alleged against Pincher.

The PM is facing criticism as he admitted he had been told about the complaint in 2019. He said that he made a “bad mistake” by not acting on it.

The prime minister narrowly survived a vote of confidence — triggered by his own lawmakers — last month. But dissatisfaction with his leadership, both within his own Conservative Party and beyond, has continued.

Meanwhile in May, a damning report into several high-profile Covid-19 lockdown-breaking parties, dubbed “partygate,” at Johnson’s office and residence was released, adding to calls for the prime minister’s resignation.

Government collapsing

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “It’s clear that this government is now collapsing.”

In a statement, Starmer further said: “After all the sleaze, the scandals and the failure, it’s clear that this government is now collapsing. Tory Cabinet ministers have known all along who this prime minister is.”

“They have been his cheerleaders throughout this sorry saga. The British public will not be fooled. The Tory party is corrupted and changing one man won’t fix that. Only a real change of government can give Britain the fresh start it needs”, Starmer added.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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