Boris Johnson’s Political Journey

After a series of political crises, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from his position in July.

Johnson took office in 2019 after winning the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party leadership contest. He replaced outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

In December 2020, Johnson’s Conservative Party secured a majority in a general election, paving the way for Johnson to pass his Brexit deal and take the UK out of the European Union.

Crisis and Criticism

This year, Johnson has been facing a barrage of criticism over his conduct and that of his government, including illegal, lockdown-breaking parties thrown in his Downing Street offices for which he and others were fined.

On June 7, Johnson survived a confidence vote by members of his own party. However, the final count of lawmakers who rebelled against him was far higher than his supporters expected.

Johnson was dealt another blow on July 5 when two of his top ministers announced their resignations, stating they could no longer work for a government mired in scandal. The crisis escalated after the resignation of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, who stepped down amid allegations he had groped two guests at a private dinner. Furthermore, it later emerged that a complaint had been made against Pincher in the Foreign Office about three years prior and that Johnson was briefed on what occurred.

Background on Boris Johnson

Johnson started his career as a journalist, being dismissed from an initial job at The Times for fabricating a quote. However, he later became a Brussels correspondent and subsequently an assistant editor for The Daily Telegraph. From 1994 to 2005, he served as editor of the weekly magazine The Spectator.

In 2001, Johnson was elected as a member of Parliament, winning the seat in Henley for the Conservative Party.

Political Milestones

Throughout his political career, Johnson has taken part in numerous key events, including being re-elected as mayor of London in 2012, and navigating through the whirlwind of the Brexit referendum.

Resignation and Aftermath

On July 7, Johnson announced his resignation in front of No. 10 Downing Street, stating, “It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister.”