UK media reacts to the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, and where that leaves the PM
The Times: Game over
Boris Johnson is still clinging to office in Downing Street, despite the resignations yesterday of Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Sajid Javid, the health secretary. That is a mistake. He has lost the confidence of his party and the country. Just two weeks ago, the Conservatives suffered historic by-election defeats in two previously solid seats. That highlighted the depth of hostility to Mr Johnson in very different parts of the country and prompted the resignation of the party chairman. There is no conceivable chance that Mr Johnson, who failed to secure the backing of 148 MPs in a confidence vote last month, can recover his authority to provide the effective leadership that the country needs at a time of acute national crisis. Every day that he remains deepens the sense of chaos. For the good of the country, he should go. What has brought Mr Johnson to this position is the same character flaws that have dogged his entire career: his persistent lying and flagrant disregard for the codes and conventions that necessarily underpin public life.
Daily Mail leader
Today, millions of his despairing supporters must feel like performing exactly the same gesture. For the Prime Minister is on the brink of being dethroned. It’s almost beyond belief. Less than three years ago, Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party to a landslide victory on a message of hope and One-Nation optimism. Today, his Government seems determined to devour itself. A string of sleaze scandals and regicidal plots in recent months had already destabilised Mr Johnson and the country at the worst possible time. The Mail has been urging loyal Tories to stand by their leader in these difficult times and allow him to get on with the job of running the country. A backbench coup failed and despite a trickle of low-level resignations, the party could have rediscovered its common cause and sense of purpose. Yesterday, however, the dam burst… …
