‘Boris Johnson has inflicted lies, fraud, and chaos in the country’ – MPs rage, as pressure mounts on UK PM to completely leave ‘as soon as possible’

While United Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson may have announced his resignation, Thursday morning, as leader of the ruling Conservation Party, he is still expected to remain in office as the country’s leader pending a general election, later this year.

However, the embattled Mr. Johnson gave in to severe pressure mounted by fellow Members of Parliament (MPs), including those from his Conservative (Tory) Party, who, fearing a vote of no confidence by the parliament may force an early general election.

Now, however, despite resigning, the battle for both Johnson and his Conservative Party is how to cling on to power until that general election, as MPs now consider him as persona non grata in the UK’s politics.

Less than three years ago, Johnson won an historic landslide victory in a general election – but he has been dogged by controversy in recent months, including a fine for breaking his own lockdown laws.

The revolt this week was triggered by revelations about the prime minister’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher.

Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, has reportedly met the embattled prime minister to tell him he has lost the confidence of the party.

Johnson even after stepping down as leader of the ruling Conservative Party, has insisted on staying in Downing Street until a new Tory leader has been elected to replace him as PM. And that has shifted the battle grounds inside the parliament.

Although, Jonhson since resigning has begun appointing new ministers to replace the ones that quit in protest at his leadership, some of his fellow Conservative MPs are urging him to leave as soon as possible to avoid government paralysis.

Former minister Sir Bob Neill told MPs there was a ‘serious question mark’ over how long a ‘caretaker’ prime minister could stay in place, adding: “Might it not be in everybody’s interest to speed up the transition as much as possible?

On his part, Sir Keir Starmer said that if the Conservative Party did not ‘get rid’ of Johnson immediately then the opposition Labour would bring a vote of no confidence ‘in the national interest.’

“We can’t go on with this prime minister clinging on for months,” said the Labour leader, adding: “He needs to go completely… he’s inflicted lies, fraud, and chaos in the country.”

Labour also thinks Johnson should quit as prime minister now and there should be an interim prime minister until the autumn.

Similarly, the Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Ed Davey said it had long been clear Mr Johnson was “unfit to lead our country”, adding the “public won’t forgive the Conservatives for propping him up for so long”.

In a tweet, Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said there was a ‘widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days (indeed months) will come to an end.’

A vote of no confidence would be held in Parliament – if the government lost the vote that could lead to a general election, but this would require a significant rebellion from Conservative MPs to back a Labour motion.

The die was cast for Johnson, earlier in the week when dozens of ministers – including chancellor Rishi Sunak – resigned in protest at his leadership.

Mr Sunak’s replacement as chancellor Nadhim Zahawi was among the ministers urging the PM to quit.

Johnson resisted the calls until Thursday morning, when it became clear that he had lost the confidence of his MPs and that the government could no longer function.

Attorney General Suella Braverman and leading backbencher Steve Baker are the first Tory MPs to declare a leadership bid, with others expected to follow.

MPs are also locked in argument over whether it is sustainable for Johnson to carry on as prime minister until the third quarter of the year, as his supporters opine that the move offers some semblance of continuity and stability at a time where there is not much of either.

However, critics, such as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, are already arguing it is not sustainable, given the huge number of vacancies in government.