UK: In a development that could bring down the United Kingdom’s Government, two of the seniormost ministers in the Boris Johnson Cabinet resigned within minutes of each other on Tuesday, citing a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Treasury Chief or Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit the Government after Johnson was forced to acknowledge that he changed his story on the way he handled allegations of sexual misconduct by a senior member of his Government.
Sunak, in his resignation., wrote: “For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly.”
Javid said the public had lost confidence in Boris Johnson and so had he. “Conservatives at their best are seen as hard-headed decision-makers, guided by strong values. We may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest. Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public is concluding that we are now neither,” he wrote in his resignation.
Meanwhile, the Leader of Britain’s Opposition Labour Party Keir Starmer said he would welcome a snap election and the country needed a change of government after Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost two of his key ministers who quit on Tuesday. Asked by a reporter if he would support a national election if one was called in the next two weeks, Starmer said: “Yes. We need a fresh start for Britain. We need a change of Government and this Government is collapsing.” – INDIA TODAY