Boris Johnson tells former treasurer he does not want to resign as PM

Boris Johnson tells former treasurer he does not want to resign as PM
July 26, 2022, 9:00 am

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson - Official Facebook account

Boris Johnson told former treasurer Peter Cruddas that he "does not want to resign" as U.K. prime minister and wishes he could "wipe away" his departure, The Telegraph reported on Monday (July 25).

The report said that Johnson also told Cruddas over lunch on Friday (July 23) that he "wants to fight the next general election as leader of the Conservative Party.”

"There was no ambiguity in Boris's views. He definitely does not want to resign. He wants to carry on and he believes that, with the membership behind him, he can," the report quoting Cruddas as saying.

On July 7, Boris Johnson has quit as Conservative leader, saying it is "clearly now the will" of Tory MPs that there should be a new leader.

Days before stepping down, Johnson had come under immense scrutiny, with a string of resignations since July 5, including that of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid, two of the most pivotal members of Johnson’s cabinet.

The UK government crisis in Westminster was triggered by an affair involving Johnson’s party colleague Chris Pincher, the deputy chief whip.

A view shows cabinet room in 10 Downing Street during British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's birthday, in London, Britain June 19, 2020 in this picture obtained from civil servant Sue Gray's report published on May 25, 2022. Sue Gray Report / gov.uk/Handout via REUTERSReuters

Johnson had nominated Pincher, who faces multiple counts of sexual harassment allegations, for the role. He initially denied knowing about the allegations until it became apparent that he had lied.

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However, the Pincher case was merely the latest in several scandals Johnson either played some role or was the main culprit.

He was criticised for illegal parties at his Downing Street office during the coronavirus lockdown.

Recently, the weeks-old Tory leadership contest to replace outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson has turned increasingly bitter, with both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss fiercely briefing against each other.

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The two prime ministerial contenders clashed fiercely over tax, China and character on Monday night (July 25) in their first head-to-head televised debate.

Monday's BBC debate showcased that acrimony, with former finance minister Sunak savaging Foreign Secretary Truss' plans to slash taxes immediately -- a key dividing line between the pair.

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