British Prime Minister Boris Johnson fired Housing Secretary Michael Gove on Wednesday evening. That reports the BBC. Gove is seen as a politician loyal to Johnson. He worked closely with Johnson on the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign in favor of Brexit. Johnson’s minister for Wales Simon Hart also resigned late on Wednesday evening. He is the third minister from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet to resign.
The now fired Gove has been a leading figure in the Conservative Party for decades, having held senior positions within Johnson’s party since his appointment as Education Secretary in 2010. For example, he was ‘Chief Whip’ in parliament, an important leadership position. He was also Minister of Justice and Minister of the Environment.
“You can’t go to the press and say you’re calling on the prime minister to step down and expect to stay in cabinet,” Downing Street sources said of Gove’s alleged resignation. “It is not the first time that he has behaved treacherously, terribly and disloyally. This should have happened years ago.”
Last night several leading British cabinet ministers marched to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official residence to tell him that he must step down as Prime Minister as he has lost confidence in the Conservative party. Among them are said to have been Home Secretary Priti Patel, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, a longtime ally of Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who continued to support Johnson during the partygate scandal. According to the BBC, Shapps has told the Prime Minister that Johnson will not win a second confidence vote. The minister would have advised Johnson to resign early, but in an orderly manner.
Johnson has indicated several times in recent days that he does not want to leave. “When I look at the problems this country is facing, and also the war in Europe, I don’t see how it is responsible to walk away from it,” he said, among other things. “The last thing this country needs is elections.” According to the BBC, Johnson would like to stay on to focus on the “immensely important things this country faces”.
Third minister resigns
The minister for Wales, Simon Hart, was also among the group of ministers who unsuccessfully urged Johnson to resign. Late Wednesday evening, Hart announced his resignation in a letter to Johnson. He is the third minister from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet to resign, after Health Minister Sajid Javid and Finance Minister Rishi Sunak.
In his letter of resignation to Johnson, Hart said: “I had desperately hoped I could avoid writing this letter, but unfortunately there seems to be no option left but to step down from my role as minister for Wales.” He added: “My colleagues have gone out of their way, both privately and publicly, to help you turn the ship, but I regret that I believe we are past the point where this is possible”. Many ministers have already resigned from his scandal-stricken government.
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