Crisis of Confidence

I wrote in July 2019, when Johnson was elected, that it would be very difficult for him to show that as Leader of the Conservative Party, he had support of the House of Commons to allow him to become PM. I thought it possible that the Queen might not invite Johnson to have formed a Government.

In the end, no questions were asked, and despite being in the middle of the Brexit crisis caused by a split Parliament, caused by May’s poor decision to call an election so the country backed her version of Brexit. Johnson went on to lose record numbers of votes in the Commons, sometimes in record defeats as Opposition and ERG voted against him and his vision.

Anyone can become Prime Minister, all the Commons has to do is vote tot hat effect they have confidence in a given person. This is the legitimacy that dictates who is Prime Minister and who is not. The person doesn’t even have to be an MP, or an MP of the majority party.

Last week, Johnson suffered his Government imploding. Over 60 Ministers resigned in a little over 24 hours.

He clung to power.

In the end, he resigned. And the process began to elect a new Leader of the Conservative Party.

As that is what Johnson resigned. He did not resign as Prime Minister.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland must have a Prime Minister, the post cannot be vacant.

It was possible the delegated Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab could take over. But it was decided Johnson should continue in post until the new Leader of the Conservative Party was decided.

A new Cabinet and set of Ministers was appointed, and then the runners and riders threw their hats into the ring to become the new Leader, and the sniping began.

Yesterday, labour said it was going to bring a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister and his Government. This was not unreasonable.

The previous week, just seven days ago, over 60 Ministers resigned saying they could not serve in a Government lead by Johnson. Although many have now done so.

The point of the motion was to link those who resigned last week for that reason to now restate that position in The House, or now back Johnson. This would link them to Johnson.

It is also no unreasonable to ask Parliament if it had confidence in a Prime Minister that just last week, clearly, most of the Conservative Party did not. They wanted to ensure this current Government had the confidence of The House and was therefore legitimate.

Yes, it is playing politics, but is the foundation of our Parliament.

Johnson denied the motion, refusing to grant time in the House for it.

Convention dictates that such motions must not be blocked.

Yet, it has.

Further proof of the coach and horses Johnson has driven through the UK constitution and its conventions.

It might never recover.

Meanwhile, the Ministers appointed last week are fighting to be Leader, and are briefing against each other. There is no effective Government.

Just as well there is no War in Europe, a new wave of COVID, escalating cost of living crisis and all candidates planning a trade war with the EU to deal with.

Changing leader is not going to change direction of the Conservative Party or the next Government, in fact, it might be even more batshit crazy.

Don't let any Conservative tell you that their party is the defeder of democracy, Parliament, or law and order.