UK politics reels from shock of ex-PM Johnson’s departure

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson’s angry departure from parliament over Covid lockdown-breaking parties sparked fevered speculation yesterday over his and the current government’s future, with allies and enemies trading barbs.

Johnson announced he was leaving as a member of parliament on Friday, claiming he had been forced out in a stitch-up by his political opponents.

The 58-year-old populist politician has been under investigation by a cross-party committee about whether he deliberately lied to parliament over parties when he was in office.

In evidence earlier this year, he insisted he had not.

But as the committee prepares to make public its findings, he said they had contacted him “making it clear… they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament”.

The Privileges Committee, which has a majority of MPs from his own Conservative party, has powers to impose sanctions for misleading parliament, including suspension.

Ordinarily, suspension of more than 10 working days leads to a by-election in the MP’s constituency.

By quitting, Johnson avoids the consequences of a humiliating fight to remain an MP in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency in northwest London where he holds a slim majority of just over 7,000.

He denounced the committee, chaired by veteran opposition Labour MP Harriet Harman, as a “kangaroo court”.

Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries also quit as an MP, meaning current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whom Johnson partly blames for his downfall, faces two by-elections as his party languishes in the polls.

Johsnon’s ability to generate strong feelings of admiration or hate was reflected in the reaction to his shock announcement.

The Daily Mirror likened him to “a criminal who refuses to come to court for his sentencing.”

But Johnson’s supporters rallied behind him, lauding his achievements in pushing through Brexit and galvanising support for Ukraine.

Conservative-leaning tabloid The Sun hailed his “unique magnetism and historic achievements” which “dwarf those of the pygmies who set out to expel him as an MP and, appallingly, have succeeded”.

There was, however, widespread agreement that Johnson will remain a looming presence and a problem for Sunak.

“He may have resigned as MP but he made very clear in his statement that he does not see this as the end of his political career,” the Times wrote.

The BBC added that “the ghost of Boris Johnson haunts Rishi Sunak. It is the last thing the prime minister needs”.

Johnson led the Tories to a thumping 80-seat majority in the December 2019 general election on a promise to “get Brexit done”.

That allowed him to railroad through parliament his divorce deal with the European Union, unblocking years of political paralysis.

But he was undone by his handling of the Covid pandemic, “Partygate” and a succession of other scandals that led to a ministerial rebellion in July last year.

He quit as prime minister and left office in September last year, though rumours persisted that he wanted another shot at the top job.