Boris Johnson in turmoil

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Two years ago to the day, on December 12, 2020, it was a triumphant Boris Johnson who was re-elected as a deputy and kept his place in Downing Street. His party even won the absolute majority, the largest since 1987. December 12, 2021, it is the plunge. The popularity of the British Prime Minister has never been lower: 57% of Britons say they are in favor of his resignation. In the polls, the Labor opposition is ahead of the Conservatives and, in the corridors of Westminster, criticism is mounting. Even in his own camp, the deputies play at guessing who could succeed him.

This relatively rapid fall is explained by a succession of scandals linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, at an accelerating rate. Last week, the British were amazed to discover that a party had been organized in Downing Street on December 18, 2020, when they themselves had to comply with very strict health restrictions. Allegra Stratton, sa casual spokesperson, ended up resigning. And Boris Johnson, “the Teflon man”, about whom the controversies slipped so far without damage, had to apologize. He even promised an internal investigation.

Other cases followed. On Sunday December 12, the Sunday Times published a photo of him, December 15, 2020. We see the Prime Minister playing a Christmas quiz with two collaborators: one wears a garland around his neck, the other a hat of Christmas. According to the newspaper, there were about 20 people in the office and some had gone to buy alcohol at the local supermarket.

“The government takes us for fools”, says Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer, denouncing “a culture of contempt for the rules “. We have, he said, “the worst possible leader at the worst possible time“.

There are other scandals that have nothing to do with Covid-19, such as thehe renovation of his apartment for which the Conservative Party has just been fined 21 million euros by the electoral commission. Boris Johnson had “forgotten” to declare that a generous donor had advanced the cost of the work. The British Prime Minister has also been targeted bys suspicions of corruption, when he wanted to protect Owen Paterson, one of his deputy friends, who was going to be sanctioned for having pocketed too much lobbying income.

Without forgetting the traces of cocaine found in 11 of 12 toilets in Westminster, home to the British Parliament, in London, including those located a few steps from Boris Johnson’s office. The affair had such an impact that several avenues are being studied to fight against the presence of drugs in Parliament. It is estimated that around 19,000 people currently have a pass that allows them to avoid systematic searches at the entrance to Westminster.

The week of December 13 is not going to help matters. Thursday, in the Midlands, there is a by-election: a constituency held for 40 years by the Tories risks toppling over. It will be a “life-size” test of the impact of business.

But the real danger for Boris Johnson comes from his own camp. On Tuesday, several dozen conservative MPs are expected to vote against his new measures to fight Covid-19. Even if the next general election does not take place for two years, recent history shows that the Tories are able to change horses very quickly when theirs is no longer able to win the race.

It suffices for 15% of Tory deputies, or 54 elected, to send letters of no confidence to trigger a vote of confidence. Theresa May experienced it in 2019. BoJo really has to worry about it.


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