Boris Johnson Ally Nigel Adams Resigns, Triggering Third By-Election for Conservative Party
Nigel Adams, an ally of Boris Johnson, has resigned, triggering a third by-election for the Conservative Party and creating deeper political problems for Rishi Sunak.
Adams' decision follows that of Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries and comes after a Partygate report into whether Johnson deliberately lied to Parliament, which he has criticized as a "witch hunt." By-elections sap energy, money, and attention that the party would rather use to focus on governing and the general election.
There is deep anger among politicians and the public at the way Johnson and his allies have criticized the Commons Privileges Committee and its members, who are duty-bound to put party affiliation to one side and not speak publicly about their report until it is published.
Johnson has issued an eviscerating 1,000-word statement criticizing the draft report as "riddled with inaccuracies" and describing the committee as a "kangaroo court." The committee is expected to finalize its conclusions and publish its findings shortly after.
Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries, former UK Prime Minister and MP respectively, have resigned from their positions.
This leaves the Conservative Party with a working majority of 64, down from the 80-seat majority held in the 2019 general election.
Bill Cash, another Conservative MP, also announced that he will not be standing for re-election.
The Conservative Party is facing criticism from some of its own members, including backbencher Sir John Redwood, who has called for Rishi Sunak to make a statement reassuring party supporters.
However, Tory grandee Chris Patten has said that he hopes Johnson's resignation marks the end of a difficult period in British politics for the Conservative Party.
A former adviser to Johnson has said that he decided to resign as an MP ahead of the Partygate report's publication because he saw the writing on the wall and did not want to fight a by-election he was likely to lose.
There is deep anger among politicians and the public at the way Johnson and his allies have criticized the Commons Privileges Committee and its members, who are duty-bound to put party affiliation to one side and not speak publicly about their report until it is published.
Johnson has issued an eviscerating 1,000-word statement criticizing the draft report as "riddled with inaccuracies" and describing the committee as a "kangaroo court." The committee is expected to finalize its conclusions and publish its findings shortly after.
Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries, former UK Prime Minister and MP respectively, have resigned from their positions.
This leaves the Conservative Party with a working majority of 64, down from the 80-seat majority held in the 2019 general election.
Bill Cash, another Conservative MP, also announced that he will not be standing for re-election.
The Conservative Party is facing criticism from some of its own members, including backbencher Sir John Redwood, who has called for Rishi Sunak to make a statement reassuring party supporters.
However, Tory grandee Chris Patten has said that he hopes Johnson's resignation marks the end of a difficult period in British politics for the Conservative Party.
A former adviser to Johnson has said that he decided to resign as an MP ahead of the Partygate report's publication because he saw the writing on the wall and did not want to fight a by-election he was likely to lose.
