Britain's Boris Johnson faces grave new political crisis as 2 key Cabinet ministers resign in protest

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "suffered a potentially lethal political blow" on Tuesday, The New York Times reports, and "is fighting for political survival," BBC News adds, "after two of his top ministers attacked his leadership and resigned." In a span of 10 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit and released biting resignation letters explaining why they have lost confidence in Johnson's competence and integrity.
Johnson has had a rocky few months. A government report found that he and members of his staff participated in boozy lockdown-violating parties at his office and official residence, leading to 126 fines, including one against Johnson; he narrowly survived a no-confidence vote last month, with 41 percent of fellow Conservative members of Parliament voting to oust him; and Conservative candidates were then soundly beaten in two special parliamentary elections, leading to the resignation of Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden.
"Until Tuesday his Cabinet had largely stayed put and loyal," The Associated Press reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The public resignations of Sunak and Javid, followed quickly by several junior ministers, were evidently prompted by the latest scandal surrounding Johnson, involving suspended Conservative lawmaker Chris Pincher. Johnson appointed Pincher deputy chief whip in February despite, he finally acknowledged Tuesday, being aware of sexual misconduct allegations against him as early as 2019.
"Both Sunak and Javid are seen as possible contenders to replace Johnson if he is forced out," AP reports, but "Johnson has in the past proven to be an adept politician, fighting off criticism to prolong his career." Johnson quickly replaced both officials with loyalists. And other key Cabinet ministers stuck with Johnson, including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, another possible successor.
Still, Johnson has clearly been politically weakened by the successive scandals. A snap YouGov poll released Tuesday found that 69 percent of Britons — including 54 percent of Conservatives — think Johnson should resign. And The Times of London, Johnson's former employer, published a brutal editorial Wednesday calling "game over" for the prime minister, saying "he has lost the confidence of his party and the country" and should resign.
After the dual departures of Sunak and Javid, "I can't see a way he gets through this — it really does look like the end of the road this time," Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, tells The New York Times.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Is Hollywood losing its luster?
Today's Big Question Television and film production is moving, leaving Hollywood to ponder its place in pop culture
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges