The Conservative Party’s chairman, Oliver Dowden, admitted that the next local elections would be challenging, but claimed Boris Johnson’s departure would be “extremely harmful” to the country. Even though two-thirds of Brits want Boris Johnson to quit before the next national election, a top Tory has declared that he will lead the Conservatives into the next election.
“Challenging” Local Elections, Says Oliver Dowden
Following the Partygate incident, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden stated that the next local elections would be “challenging” for the Tories.
After MPs voted to investigate whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament on Downing Street parties during the lockdown, he said he had “nothing to hide.”
He did add that it must be “balanced out” against government accomplishments like vaccine implementation, Brexit, and backing for Ukraine.
After the police have completed their investigation into the parties, the Commons Privileges Committee will commence its probe.
Tory Chair Oliver Dowden Thinks Boris Johnson Should Stay as PM
Mr Dowden was shown a YouGov survey during a TV appearance in which 78% of the British population felt Boris Johnson lied about the issue. When asked whether this is a cause for worry ahead of the May 6 council elections, he told Sophy Ridge: “Of course, we’re mid-term. They will be challenging elections. However, I believe we have genuinely fantastic Conservative municipalities delivering for the people.”
“I don’t think the prime minister deceived Parliament,” he said, adding, “He is open to the Privileges Committee doing that probe, and Parliament agreed to it, so I don’t believe that scenario will happen.”
“Yes, I believe he will take us into the next election,” he answered when asked whether Mr Johnson would lead the party into the next election.
“We understand people’s displeasure over what transpired,” he added, adding that he and Mr Johnson “share people’s anger over what happened.”
Covid Restrictions for Downing Street, Yes or No
Mr Johnson is now the subject of three formal investigations alleging Covid lockdown law violations at the highest levels of government.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said that the affair had “shot through” Mr Johnson’s authority. He said on Sunday that he would not “avoid” the fact that Johnson had broken the law while in power, justifying Labour’s emphasis on the Partygate scandal.
He called Downing Street “perhaps the most penalised workplace in the United Kingdom,” adding, “And we’re not done yet.”
“Dowden is delusory if he believes the poisonous brew of Boris Johnson’s illegal partying and the cost of living crisis would not harm the Conservatives at the local elections,” said Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper.
“Boris Johnson has enraged many long-term Conservative supporters throughout the nation. Voters will not vote for a liar, and they will certainly not vote for a criminal, and they feel taken for granted by the Conservative Party more than ever.”
There are now investigations underway by the Metropolitan Police, Whitehall enforcer Sue Gray, and the Commons Privileges Committee, investigating claims that he deceived Parliament on at least four occasions about Partygate.
The government attempted to postpone the vote at first, but backtracked after resistance from its unhappy MPs
As recently as last week, the prime minister and his wife were penalised for infringing Covid restrictions.
Before this, Mr Johnson assured MPs that the law was upheld in Downing Street.
Majority Voters: Should Boris Johnson Stay or Resign?
A recent Opinium survey indicated that over two-thirds of respondents (65%) believe Johnson should retire as prime minister before the next general election, including more than two-fifths (44%) of Conservative supporters in 2019.
“Dowden is delusory if he thinks Boris Johnson’s illegal partying and the cost of living problem would benefit the Conservatives in local elections,” said Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Boris Johnson has enraged a sizeable percentage of long-term Conservative supporters throughout the nation. Voters will not vote for a liar or a criminal, and the Conservative Party has deceived them more than ever. ”
According to Adam Drummond, head of political and social research at Opinium, the Prime Minister’s popularity skyrocketed during the Ukraine crisis before plummeting.
“The prime minister’s popularity has reverted to “suitcases full of wine” territory,” he noted, “and a large proportion of Conservative supporters feel a fresh face should lead the party’s next election”.
Given Rishi Sunak’s rating decline, Johnson benefits from the lack of a clear successor. Still, No 10 should be much more worried about voters’ economic and personal fortunes next year.
Keir Starmer told the BBC, “Johnson’s moral authority and capacity to lead have been undermined, and his followers have had enough.” However, he recognised that the cost of living was the most urgent worry for people throughout the UK and that Labour had suggested steps to help them.
“That is the fundamental difficulty for a significant number of people, and they are truly struggling to make their payments,” he went on to say. “The government’s reaction to the Spring Statement was reprehensible.” To cope with the issue, Labour has asked the government to establish an emergency fund.
Conclusion
A recent Opinium poll indicated that Mr Johnson’s net popularity rating has dropped to -33%, with more than three-fifths of Britons (59%) expressing dissatisfaction with his job.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) said the prime minister should step down before the next general election, including more than two-fifths (44%) of Conservative voters in 2019.
According to the poll, 42% feel he should resign immediately, while 14% believe he should depart when Ukraine’s situation has calmed down.
The prime minister’s popularity rose when the Ukraine conflict started, but this effect has since faded.
The prime minister’s approval rating has reverted to “suitcases full of wine” territory. A significant minority of Conservative supporters feel a new face should head the party at the next election.
Johnson gains from the lack of a clear successor. Still, despite Rishi Sunak’s plummeting popularity ratings, No 10 should be much more worried about voters’ expectations for the economy and their finances in the next year.
