PM needs to go for sake of the country

THERE is an inevitability about the way in which Boris Johnson’s premiership is coming to an end.

A month ago he could have been ousted in a vote of no confidence, but hung on despite 41% of his MPs voting against him.

Since then the Conservative Party has suffered two devastating by-election defeats and a new scandal has blown up after it emerged Chris Pincher was appointed deputy chief whip even though Mr Johnson was briefed in 2019 about allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the disgraced MP.

Never before has British politics experienced a situation in which large numbers of ministers have resigned, calling on the Prime Minister publicly to do the same.

On previous occasions when prime ministers have lost the confidence of their party, they have known when the time had arrived for them to leave with dignity.

Even Margaret Thatcher, who believed she had been unfairly manoeuvred out of office, resigned when she realised it would be inappropriate to carry on.

But Mr Johnson is in a category of his own. Used to acting with impunity and getting his own way regardless of the circumstances, he sees no reason to resign.

Having, as he sees it, fended off partygate, he does not accept the circumstances surrounding the appointment of Mr Pincher should bring him down.

Yet for many Tory MPs, Mr Johnson’s electoral allure evaporated with the by-election losses, and the Pincher scandal has presented itself as a convenient excuse to ditch him.

The truth is that his party should have dumped him months ago, but for a combination of reasons – predominantly the lack of an obvious successor – he has been allowed to carry on.

This has created instability which is exacerbating the UK’s economic difficulties.

The pound is trading at a twoyear low against the US dollar while markets are concerned about Britain’s projected sluggish growth rate linked to Brexit.

At a time when the world is in turmoil because of huge increases in the price of energy and the war in Ukraine, we cannot afford a continuing leadership crisis caused by Mr Johnson’s stubborn determination to stay in office.

The Conservative Party needs to act swiftly to bring this farce to an end. Ultimately, if Mr Johnson refuses to go it is only Tory MPs who can force him to do so.

There must be no further delay.