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Topics: Boris Johnson, UK News, Politics
Emily Brown
The prime minister is said to be refusing to resign despite repeated calls from cabinet delegation encouraging him to step down.
Johnson has faced numerous calls for his resignation after it emerged he had appointed Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip despite having knowledge of an investigation into inappropriate behaviour.
In just over 24 hours, Johnson has lost numerous members of his government including Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak, who both handed in their resignations after the PM's insights about Pincher's behaviour came to light.
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Both members of the conservative party and members of the public have demanded Johnson resign from his role as prime minister, including Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, but ITV’s Anushka Asthana reported today (6 July) the PM was 'absolutely defiant and was not going to resign'.
In a tweet, Asthana continued: "Sources tell me he told Cabinet colleagues that it was a choice between summer focused on economic growth or chaos of a leadership contest - followed by massive pressure for general election.
"Arguing that a lost election will mean a coalition that will lead to break up of Britain (sounds familiar from 2015!) and those around him think they will lose a couple more from Cabinet but not all. They claim Sir Graham['s] position was that he won’t be drummed out tonight and that rule change won’t come til Monday. And said he put his '14 million mandate on [the] table'."
The reporter later cited sources saying Johnson would 'fight a confidence vote', but added they were 'also very clear that if he were to lose that vote - he would then go'.
Rowena Mason, deputy political editor at The Guardian, furthered the speculation about Johnson's refusal as she cited a Number 10 source, saying: "He wants to stay and fight... It's not quite as Domesday as people were thinking even a few hours ago."
The source went on to claim Nadhim Zahawi, the new chancellor, is backing Johnson, and told Mason: "He's naturally just immovable in terms of his bullishness."
A report from PA News claims Johnson has insisted he would continue to focus on the 'hugely important issues facing the country' rather than resigning, with a report from the political editor of The Times citing Johnson as saying he is 'staying on for the good of the country', and that it is not about his own self-interest.
Johnson himself indicated he plans to stay in power while speaking to the Commons Liaison Committee, when he referred to the invasion of Ukraine and said: "I can’t for the life of me see how it is responsible just to walk away from that”.
The PM did not deny reports suggesting Cabinet minister Michael Gove had told him earlier today to stand down, but Johnson allegedly stood his ground and insisted he would still be leader tomorrow.
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